Investing in what already works: Public access institutions as drivers of digital equity
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, UNESCO, Universal Postal Union
Session 199
Background
The WSIS+20 Review Outcome Document Resolution reiterates a longstanding recognition of the role of public access facilities such as schools, post offices, libraries and hospitals in providing connectivity, including for people in vulnerable situations.
As we move into the third decade of the WSIS process, what does this access look like, and how can we integrate this effectively and meaningfully into broader digitial inclusion strategies?
Session Plan
The session wil start with real-world examples of how these facilities not only provide free Internet access and a trusted community space while keeping underserved populations connected, but also ensure less connected groups can access essential digital services and help close digital skills gaps that are critical to the implementation of WSIS goals. It will highlight the significant potential of investing in and scaling an already existent global network and infrastructure, rather than allocating additional resources to build new systems from the ground up.
It will then explore the specific possibilities that come from stronger mobilisation of Universal Service Access Funds (USAFs), responding to an additional call within the outcome document from the WSIS+20 process. This will draw in particular on recent research into how public access features in existing USAF initiatives and lessons that we can draw from here.
Finally, we will invite all participants to explore what a programme of activities and research into the place of public access in digital inclusion could look like.
Target Audience
We welcome anyone with ideas or insights about how we can make best use of the millions of (potential) public access facilities around the world in order to help us build a meaningful agenda for effective public access policies in the coming years
Kevin Hernandez is a digital inclusion expert at the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the United Nations specialized agency focused on the postal sector. His work focuses on helping countries use existing post office networks to drive inclusive and sustainable digital transformations at the national level. He manages the Connect.Post project, which aims to connect every post office in the world to the internet and leverage them to provide inclusive e-commerce, e-government, and digital financial services through a one-stop shop model. He also researches how postal services are already contributing to digital inclusion efforts and provides technical assistance to governments and postal operators seeking to expand their role in this area. Prior to joining the UPU, Kevin was a researcher at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex for eight years, where he led projects on digital inclusion, digital governance, the future of work, and the development impacts of emerging technologies.
Xianhong Hu, UNESCO’s Programme Specialist at the Sector of Communication and Information since 2006.
She serves on the Secretariat of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Program of Information for All (IFAP) since 2021 and had led UNESCO project of Internet Universality R.O.A.M principles (Rights, Openness, Accessibility, Multi-stakeholder) indicators during 2013-2021.
She has followed the UN led processes of the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS) and Internet Governance Forum (IGF) since 2006. Her policy work relates to humanistic digital governance and transformation, the ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies, and building humanistic and inclusive Knowledge Societies.
She is an affiliate of Harvard University Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society (2021-2022). Xianhong Hu is an alumni in the professional area of Internet governance of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) as invited by the U.S Department of State in 2016.
She lead-authored UNESCO policy study Steering AI and Advanced ICTs for Knowledge Societies: A ROAM Perspective’(2019). Xianhong Hu guest lectures at a number of Universities, including Science Po, Bordeaux University Montagne, University of Malta, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Macao University, Peking University, China Communication University, etc. She initiated UNESCO Series Publication on Internet Freedom in 2011, which has captured the complex dynamics of global Internet governance by studying policy issues of online freedom of expression, privacy, Internet intermediaries, digital safety, Artificial Intelligence, etc. She has conducted UNESCO Series Publication on investigative journalism, including “Story-Based Enquiry: A Training Manual for Investigative Journalism” and “Global Casebook of Investigative Journalism”. Xianhong Hu received a Ph.D from the School of Journalism and Communication at Peking University in China in 2007.
Stephen is Director, External Affairs at IFLA, where he works alongside colleagues to make sure that the potential of libraries to support digital inclusion and wider policy objectives is realised fully. He and his team look to build partnerships and make connections between libraries and other actors, as well as to shape the wider legislative and policy agenda to ensure that the importance of knowledge equity and access to information are centred.
Stephen has worked for IFLA for 10 years, also focusing on work around knowledge futures, the SDGs, copyright and more. Previously he worked at the UK Delegation to the OECD and British Embassy in Paris.
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C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
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C2. Information and communication infrastructure
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C3. Access to information and knowledge
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-health
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-employment
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C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
Public access solutions offer a flexible and multifunctional solution to expanding meaningful connectivity, understood not just as being about physical connections, but also access to skills and training, as well as relevant content to make internet access genuinely helpful. As such, it has relevance to a variety of WSIS Action Lines
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Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
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Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
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Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
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Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
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Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
Through providing access to the internet (SDG9) as well as access to relevant content and skills (SDG16, SDG 17), public access also strenghtens the value of public services and spaces (SDG11), as well as enabling delivery of a variety of wider goals (not least SDG4).
- Objective 1: Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
- Objective 2: Expand inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy for all