ITU Young ICT Policy Leaders Programme Testimonials
Youth participation in Information Communications and Technologies decision-making is one of the
key priorities of ITU. One form of youth participation encouraged by ITU is through the inclusion of young delegates in Member States official delegation to ITU's decision making conference –
Plenipotentiary, 2014. These young delegates participated in the
ITU Young ICT Policy Leaders programme. Member States as well as young delegates who participated in the programme, found it to be an enriching experience which, displayed ITU's commitment to preparing young ICT leaders for their future roles in ICT policy making.
Three young delegates, Chamitha de Alwis from Sri Lanka, Yao Ronald Martial Dhossa from Togo and Emilia Namwoonde from Namibia, share their experiences.
Chamitha de Alwis
Consultant to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
"It is my belief that the YIPL program marks the beginning of a new and revolutionary path - to empower the youth and include young blood to pump the growth of ICT".
The Young ICT Policy Leaders (YIPL) program was exclusive to PP-14 delegates under the age of 35. The program intended to engage and empower the next generation of ICT policy makers. Being 30 years old and part of the national delegation to represent the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka in the PP-14, qualified me for the YIPL programme.
As a young engineer, I came across many questions and challenges on how I should develop myself in order to be a dynamic leader in the ICT sector. As a young ICT policy regulator, I found it challenging to envisage how policies are carefully developed and reformed to encourage private sector investments that benefit the public. Most, if not all, of my questions were answered at the YIPL "Meet the Leaders" program, where the worlds most experienced and accomplished ICT leaders including the ITU secretary general Dr. Hamadoun Touré and the secretary general elect Mr. Houlin Zhao, willingly shared their insights and experiences. In addition, we were invited to ask questions and interact with ICT leaders. These sessions were insightful and inspired me to take the necessary steps to reach heights that were only in our dreams. I should especially mention Dr. Touré's words - "Dare to dream and dream big". I know it was not only myself who instantly got inspired to leave fear and negativity - to be optimistic and energetic towards achieving goals that benefit both ourselves and the public.
The YIPL program was integrated to the main agenda of the PP-14 conference. This made it possible for participants to participate in the main conference activities. Youths involvement in ITU's decision making processes further attests to the fact that ITU is open to, energetic and innovative youth reshaping the roadmap for the future of ICT policy. Furthermore, through a range of inspiring "Meet the Leaders" sessions, we had an opportunity to engage with ICT leaders. We learned how they applied their knowledge and experience in practice to draft policies, chair sessions and build consensus among participants. Along with the interaction and networking opportunities with other future ICT leaders from around the world, the YILP programme also offered us the occasion to experience the wonders of Busan.
Let me pass my sincere gratitude towards ITU for organizing the YIPL program. Furthermore, I should thank the Busan city for awarding paid fellowships to fund transport and accommodation costs of YIPL participants. It is my belief that the YIPL program marks the beginning of a new and revolutionary path - to empower the youth and include young blood to pump the growth of ICT.
BiographyChamitha de Alwis works as a Consultant to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka. He was awarded with a PhD for his research work on "Optimizing Network Coding for Efficient Multicast Applications" by the University of Surrey, United Kingdom.
Emilia Namwoonde
Acting Head of Legal Advice at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN)
"The YIPL programme was a great opportunity because it exposed me to ITU’s policymaking processes. It further acknowledged that foundations of public policy are critical to the implementation of ICT’s and highlighted the importance of ICT as a tool for empowerment".
The Young ICT Policy Leader's programme was a critical platform, which specifically focused on the role of young people in ICT policy formulation. The YIPL programme was a great opportunity because it exposed me to ITU's policymaking processes. Discussions with ICT leaders and YIPL peers, highlighted the importance of solid public policy foundations, and that these are critical to the implementation of ICT's as a tool for empowerment. Furthermore, attending the Committee Meetings, gave me an opportunity to learn how the policy directives of the ICT sector are crafted and also exposed me ITU's governance procedures.
Resolutions that emanated from real life scenarios, such as the aircraft tracking and the fight against Ebola, demonstrated an important aspects of policy formulations and the significance of policies that are reactive and proactive to better the lives of global citizens. There is therefore a need to create a legal and regulatory framework that allows people to utilize ICTs to better their lives. I found these discussions critical to the role that the legal advice department has to play in ensuring that Namibia's legal and regulatory framework enables CRAN to promote spectrum management, consumer protection, quality of service, effective competition, infrastructure sharing and universal service and access amongst others.
The Connect 2020 round table discussions were also critical in that they set out the key goals for attaining a connected society. This is crucial to the implementation of CRAN's strategic objective of Universal Access and Service. As Namibia prepares for the drafting of its broadband policy, the discussions on the importance of a broadband policy in the attainment of a connected society, represent an important benchmark.
In conclusion, I am confident that the implementation of the final Resolutions will enhance the promotion of utilizing ICT as a tool to bridge the "digital gap" and create socioeconomic development. I believe that the entire ITU family must keep the faith that if we join hands, this dream will become a reality. I trust this is what Dr. Toure had in mind when he used the words of Horace "pactum serva"!
Biography
Emilia Namwoonde (28) is the Acting Head of Legal Advice at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN). She holds a Baccalaurues Juris Degree, a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws (Cum Laude). She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts (ICT Policy and Regulation) at the Witwatersrand University in South Africa.
Yao Ronald Martial Dhossa
Control and Spectrum Management Agent at Togo Regulatory Authority (ART&P)
"The YIPL program was a human adventure, I met many people and made new friends from all around the world. I hope that friendships will be kept, that we will work together and take the good decisions to achieve our goal, Committed to connecting the world".
Consensus. This word encapsulates the spirit of ITU's 2014 Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-14). Through the conference as well as my interaction with leaders in the ICT industry, I learned that reaching consensus, is not easy. It demands more than technical skills, but qualities like being impartial, patient and humble in order to reach agreements that enable organizations to thrive.
The Young ICT Policy Leaders programme, held "Meet the Leaders" sessions which provided a platform where distinguished leaders- from ITU, Member States as well as other stakeholders- shared their personal experiences and views on leadership and how young ICT policy leaders, like myself, can contribute to achieve ITU's main goal "Committed to connecting the world".
Through the new Resolution, on youth empowerment through telecommunications and ICTs adopted at PP-14, ITU and its Member States, further confirm their commitment to engaging and encouraging the youth to participate in ICT policy making. As Young ICT Policy Leaders, we were invited to attend roundtables concerning the "Connect 2020" vision - to connect 1.5 billion people to broadband by 2020, taking into account gender, matters for inclusion, sustainability for preserving our environment and innovation to improve and provide more services.
I would like to thank the Secretary General of ITU for his engagement in this program, all the staff who worked to its success and Busan City. The YIPL program was a human adventure, I met many people and made new friends from all around the world. I hope that friendships will be kept, that we will work together and take the good decisions to achieve our goal, "Committed to connecting the world".
Biography
Yao Ronald Martial Dhossa, is in charge of national frequency allocation, control of current services, planning for future services and frequency coordination, at Control and Spectrum Management Agent at
Togo Regulatory Authorithy (ART&P). He is also editor for the website
www.lelomeen.com.
