Background
Telecommunication Development Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized three virtual Information Sessions on Connect2Recover Research Competition Papers focusing on Africa. The aims of the global Connect2Recover Research Competition are to strengthen research focus, to build a global research community, and to promote knowledge sharing on digital resiliency and digital inclusion to build back better with broadband for pandemic recovery. As a result of the Research Competition that was launched in July 2021, 15 research proposals have been selected as winners, and 12 of them focus on Africa. Objectives:
ITU planned three thematic Information Sharing Sessions with objectives to:
- Share the planned and ongoing work of the 12 project teams with the ITU Member States, Sector Members and Academia from Africa;
- Foster synergies and soliciting support for carrying out the work smoothly during the research phase;
- Enhance colloborative approaches amongst the teams and avoid any duplication with any ongoing projects; and
- Build human and institutional capacity by encouraging knowledge sharing on digital resiliency and digital inclusion to build back better with broadband for pandemic recovery.
Session Introductions:
Session 1: Digital Inclusion for Education and Vulnerable Persons
Date: 5 April 2022, 14:00-15:30 CET
Objective: This session concentrated on three research papers on digital inclusion for education and one research paper on digital inclusion for vulnerable persons. Firstly, the three research papers focused on ongoing work to identify digital challenges faced in education sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations to ensure greater access to education in the recovery phase. Secondly, the final paper highlighted on ongoing research work on challenges faced by vulnerable persons that kept them from using digital technologies, and ways to address them.
Session 2: Digital Inclusion for Job Creation and Health
Date: 21 April 2022, 12:00-13:30 CET
Objective: This session considered two research papers in the area of digital inclusion for job creation and health respectively. Firstly, the first two research papers focused on the use of digitalisation and Fintech to assist micro, small and medium enterprises to be more resilient in the aftermath of the pandemic. Secondly, the next two research papers considered strengthening digital health through the lens of telemedicine ecosystem or from a technological perspective post pandemic.
Session 3: Digital Connectivity and Resilience
Date: 5 May 2022, 14:00-15:30 CET
Objective: This session focused on the importance of digital connectivity and resilience. The first research paper highlighted ongoing work on the importance of market resilience for the growth of education, healthcare and job creation. The second research paper considered the importance of regulation, technology and business to strengthen digital infrastructure post pandemic. The third research paper stressed on the importance of empowering community networks and building resilient local networks. The final paper featured a digital testbed for federated digital platform to foster new and innovative digital services and business models.
