Name: WSIS Forum 2026
Start: 2026-07-06T07:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-10T23:00:00+02:00
Location: Palexpo

WSIS Action Line C4 Capacity building

International Telecommunication Union, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Session 293

Friday, 10 July 2026 ∼ 10:00–10:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation Room K, Palexpo Interactive Action Line Facilitation Meeting

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Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation

Rethinking capacity building and digital learning for today and tomorrow's world

In an era defined by rapid digital transformation and the accelerated deployment of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, societies worldwide face both unprecedented opportunities and widening digital divides. Despite major progress in connectivity, gaps in digital skills, institutional capacities and access to learning opportunities continue to limit the abilities of many countries and communities to fully benefit from digital technologies.

Jointly organised by ITU and UNESCO, this session will consist of a multistakeholder dialogue that will explore how capacity development and digital learning ecosystems can evolve to respond to current and future challenges. It will showcase concrete examples of projects and initiatives through which governments, public administrations, academia and civil society are scaling capacity building interventions to drive digital transformation at national and community-levels. The discussions will also aim to generate insights to inform the WSIS vision and the forward-looking implementation of Action Line C4.

The panel will feature experts engaged in key flagship programmes such as the ITU Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) Initiative and the UNESCO Schools of Public Administration and Actors for Research and Knowledge on AI (SPARK-AI) Alliance.

Dr. Andrea Kanneh Manager, Performance and Engagement Unit Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence (MPAAI), Trinidad and Tobago

Dr Andrea Kanneh is a digital transformation leader and Manager of Performance and Engagement for Trinidad and Tobago's national Digital Skills Programme within the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence.

As the national focal point for the ITU Digital Transformation Centre initiative, she is leading efforts to equip more than 100,000 citizens with digital and AI skills. Her work focuses on building inclusive, human-centred pathways that connect digital capability development to economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, and national development. Through national programmes, she supports three key learner groups: digital consumers, ICT specialists and technology professionals, and digital businesses and entrepreneurs.

A recognised leader in digital transformation, education, and human capability development, Dr Kanneh combines expertise in technology, leadership, research ethics, project management, and executive coaching to design practical, people-centred solutions that expand opportunity, strengthen workforce readiness, and enable individuals and organisations to thrive in an AI-enabled future.

Dr Kanneh holds a PhD in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and has extensive experience in digital transformation, workforce development, higher education, leadership development, and research ethics.

Mr. Markus Schwertel Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy HP

Markus is Director for HP’s Global Policy & Strategy team leading on worldwide policy engagement with international organizations (UN family and beyond), digital equity and education. Before taking this role in 2023, he worked for Government Affairs in Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, providing advice to business leaders with the objective to help driving public sector business growth creating a level playing field for HP to compete successfully.

Markus joined HP in November 2015. He previously worked for Cisco in Asia-Pacific (based in Bangkok), Eastern Europe and Germany (based in Berlin) for 14 years in Corporate Affairs and Public Sector managing Cisco’s flagship education program “Cisco Networking Academy” and Social Innovation Group country teams. Prior to this, he worked for eight years as Head of Staff for Members of German Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag), Bonn/Berlin.

Markus holds a PhD degree on Public Private Partnership in Vocational Education from Technical University in Berlin, a master’s degree on Media and Education from the University of Rostock, Germany, and a master’s degree on Political Science, Sociology and National Economy from RWTH Aachen. He is a certified trainer in Leadership & Responsibility and trained not for profit groups in Europe in creativity techniques and program management.

Topics

Artificial Intelligence Capacity Building Digital Divide Digital Inclusion Digital Skills Digital Transformation Education Emerging Technologies

WSIS Action Lines

C4. Capacity building

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

GDC Objectives

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
Objective 3: Foster an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promotes human rights
Objective 4: Advance responsible, equitable and interoperable data governance approaches
Objective 5: Enhance international governance of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity