Agenda

Side-Event during UNESCO Conference on Capacity Building on AI and Digital Transformation in the Public Sector, Room VII

Background

Digital transformation in the public sector has emerged as a powerful driver of development. Through the strategic adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and other emerging technologies, governments can deliver more efficient, transparent, and inclusive public services. These digital advances enhance policymaking, address pressing development challenges, and fuel economic growth.

Within this context, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) has played a foundational role in fostering inclusive, people-centered information societies. As a globally recognized multistakeholder platform, WSIS has shaped digital cooperation, governance, and development over the last two decades. In partnership with more than 40 other UN agencies and all Stakeholders, WSIS continues to evolve and guide digital transformation processes globally.

WSIS architecture

The WSIS architecture is grounded in a comprehensive framework that integrates multi-stakeholder engagement, action-oriented outcomes, and collaborative implementation strategies. The key components include:

WSIS Forum: An annual convening organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD that provides a dynamic platform for stakeholders to share experiences, showcase solutions, and collaborate on digital development.
WSIS Stocktaking: A global repository of ICT projects that facilitates knowledge sharing and visibility of impactful initiatives.
WSIS Prizes: Recognition of best practices that advance development through ICTs, highlighting tangible contributions to sustainable development.
WSIS Action Lines: Eleven action lines serve as the backbone of implementation, with a strong emphasis on education, infrastructure, capacity building, and ICT applications in public administration, health, and more.
 

Among these, WSIS Action Line C4: Capacity Building is particularly pertinent to public sector transformation. It underscores the essential role of education, training, and lifelong learning in equipping civil servants and institutions with the digital competencies required to navigate and demonstrate leadership within evolving information societies.

ITU Initiatives

ITU’s AI Skills Coalition: The AI Skills Coalition is an organization-wide initiative coordinated at the level of the AI for Good initiative, aiming to promote global collaboration with the ultimate goal of bridging the global AI skills gap and democratizing AI skills. The coalition brings together stakeholders from governments, industry, academia, and civil society to identify AI skills gaps across various regions and sectors, and to develop competency frameworks aligned with evolving job roles in the AI ecosystem. The coalition prioritizes inclusive access to AI training and other capacity-building resources, especially for underrepresented and underserved populations, and advocates for policy frameworks that support AI literacy, workforce development, and lifelong learning.

ITU Academy: Under the ITU Academy and its 50,000+ users is the ITU’s gateway for capacity development, capacity building activities aim to bridge digital divides by equipping countries with the knowledge and tools necessary to harness information and communication technologies (ICTs) and digital transformation for sustainable development. This work includes training programs, workshops, and the development of practical tools for enhancing digital skills of policymakers, government officials, regulators and other relevant ICT professionals on topics with a growing emphasis such as emerging technologies, AI, IoT, and cybersecurity. Capacity-building efforts are delivered through partnerships with the global 14 ITU Academy Training, supporting the development of human and institutional capacity, particularly in developing and least developed countries (LDCs) and underserved regions. These initiatives also help national governments and regulators to formulate and implement policies for digital transformation as well as digital skills strategies that are locally relevant and globally aligned.

Relation to Capacity Building in the Public Sector

These two initiatives—the AI Skills Coalition and ITU Academy’s efforts—jointly strengthen capacity in the public sector by providing both the strategic frameworks and the practical training required for digital transformation. The AI Skills Coalition outlines and equips public sector leaders with the competencies needed for AI governance and implementation, while ITU Academy  programs deliver hands-on training (both online and face-to-face) and policy guidance to ensure public officials can actively participate in and lead digital development. Together, they empower governments to craft and execute national digital strategies, regulate emerging technologies effectively, and foster inclusive digital societies. The initiatives promote knowledge sharing and cross-sector collaboration, enabling public institutions to better respond to technological change and support sustainable development goals.

Capacity Building for innovation

This initiative is part of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development. It aims to establish local resources that can lead the way in the rapidly evolving digital environment. The Alliance represents a new approach to bridging the Digital Innovation Divide and empowering ITU members to overcome challenges on their path towards digital transformation. It aims to unleash the digital potential of its members, promote local expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship, and accelerate the impact of their ecosystems on various sectors, thereby creating a sustainable and inclusive society. 

The goal is to develop projects promoting digital innovation and entrepreneurship at the national, regional, and global levels. This will enable the ITU to enhance its organisational and human excellence capabilities, introduce new products and services to its members, and increase private sector and academic participation in its critical work.

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance comprises government ministries and specialised agencies, including national regulatory and innovation authorities, as well as industry and private sector players from the ICT and digital sectors, academia, the R&D community, non-governmental and community-based organisations, civil society, international and intergovernmental organisations, development banks, and donors.

The WSIS+20 Review: Vision for the Future

The WSIS+20 Review, mandated by the UN General Assembly provides an opportunity to reflect on two decades of WSIS achievements, reaffirm commitments to the WSIS Action Lines, and address challenges. In this context, capacity building remains as a marker of success.