Background:
Through this project, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with the support of the European Union, is driving digital transformation in Central America and the Dominican Republic by implementing regulatory innovation mechanisms. These tools allow for the monitoring, comparison, and strengthening of regulatory frameworks in telecommunications and digital technologies, facilitating evidence-based decision-making by regulators and public policymakers to ensure a regulatory environment conducive to innovation and the development of new technologies.
Some countries in Central America and the Caribbean have made significant progress in their regulatory frameworks; however, the region still faces substantial challenges in consolidating regulation that fosters private investment and the sustainable development of the digital sector.
In this context, the project seeks to strengthen the technical capacities of seven countries through market segment identification, the exchange of best practices, specialized technical assistance, and the consolidation of a regional regulatory innovation network aimed at promoting more dynamic, inclusive, and adaptive regulatory environments in the beneficiary countries in response to the challenges of the digital landscape.
Project Objective:
To strengthen the regulatory and institutional framework for digital transformation in Central America through the development and implementation of innovative tools such as regulatory sandboxes and innovation hubs, promoting policies aligned with international standards on gender, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
Expected Outcome:
A strengthened regulatory and institutional framework for digital transformation and regional integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Central America, through the assessment, design, and implementation of innovative regulatory tools—such as regulatory sandboxes and innovation hubs—to foster policy development at both national and regional levels, in line with international standards on gender, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
Deliverables:
By the end of the project, the following deliverables will be developed:
- Increased capacity of relevant regulatory authorities to design, implement, and monitor innovative regulatory frameworks that support private investment in connectivity, innovation, and cross-sectoral digital transformation, in alignment with international standards on gender, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
- Enhanced technical support for the application of appropriate innovative regulatory mechanisms/tools that lead to regulatory reforms supporting digital transformation, incorporating gender-responsive approaches.
- Promotion of cooperation and networking among Central American regulatory authorities on regulatory frameworks that encourage the adoption of innovative digital technologies.
