Mr Yamaguchi Norifumi, Director, Technical Cooperation, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan
H.E Dr. Ali H. Alghamdi, Health Consultant, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), Saudi Arabia
Distinguished colleagues,
Thank you for joining us today in this webinar on our Connect2Recover initiative, which we are proudly hosting along the side lines of the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries. Our event today follows the second thematic panel discussion, on ''Leveraging the power of science, technology and innovation to fight multidimensional vulnerabilities and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.''
I would like to give you a broad overview of the why, the what and the how of Connect2Recover and this webinar.
First, why is this initiative imperative?
We have all come to learn quickly over this past year that broadband and ICTs play a critical role in our daily lives, and for the overall growth of national economies.
However, half the planet – that's 3.7 billion people – still remain offline.
Lack of internet access is even more acute in LDCs, where only 19% of the population is connected.
Of course, there are stark digital divides between LDCs and developed countries, but also within LDCs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on communities that lack digital infrastructure, affordable digital services, and necessary digital skills.
Faced with lockdowns, communities in LDCs have experienced severe disruptions in their ability to continue learning, working, and accessing basic healthcare and government services.
As we strive to deliver on our promise to ''leave no one behind'' and achieve the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, digital will certainly be a part of the equation.
So, what are we going to talk about today?
As we begin to embrace the many lessons the pandemic has taught us, we must focus on ''building back better with broadband.''
To work in this direction, the Connect2Recover initiative – launched with the support of the government of Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia— aims to strengthen countries' digital infrastructure ecosystems, and help them remain robust and resilient in times of major crisis.
We will explore the use of ICTs and broadband for education, healthcare, and jobs, to support not only COVID-19 recovery efforts but also help prepare LDCs for potential future shocks.
In order to make sure our Connect2Recover initiative can scale and have a global impact, we are also coordinating efforts with other relevant ITU initiatives, such as Giga - our bold partnership with UNICEF to connect every school to the Internet and every young person to information, opportunity, and choice – and our project with the African Union and ILO on Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills in Africa's Digital Economy.
Over the course of our discussion today participants will have the opportunity to learn more about Connect2Recover, but also our Global Network Resilience Platform – REG4COVID.
We will present concrete examples of effective telecommunications contingency planning and responses for future crises, which we hope will encourage countries, including LDCs, to adopt National Emergency Telecommunication Plans.
This session will also provide you with insights from countries' experiences in implementing resiliency measures, and their experiences in addressing gaps in policies and strategies for preparedness.
I am looking forward to hearing from representatives from Rwanda and Haiti, as they share their experiences on the Connect2Recover implementation efforts already underway in their countries.
I hope that you all will take away useful insights for the benefit of your own countries.
Please do join the conversation via the interactive chat function – to ask questions, to contribute with your own expertise, and of course, to provide us with feedback during the Q&A sessions.
Thank you again for your participation, and I now hand the floor to my colleague, Ms. Marie-Jo, to kick off our programme.
