Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
1
Regional Capacity-building Activities on
ICT Policy Development
in Central Asia
Michiko Enomoto
Economic Cooperation and Integration Division (ECID)
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
2
Work of the UNECE Committee on Economic Cooperation and Integration (CECI)
Main focus areas of CECI:
• Knowldge-based economy and innovation• Entrepreneurship and SME development• Financial intermediation for innovative development• Intellectual property rights (IPR)• Public-private partnership (PPP)
ICT related issues are dealt in broader work programme of CECI
on innovation and competitiveness.
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
3
Our approach on ICT related issues
1. ICT as one of the most important tools to enhance innovative development and knowledge-based competitiveness
2. Concrete, demand-driven capacity-building activities on ICT
3. Emphasis on countries with economies in transition, with special focus on Central Asia
4. Extrabudgetary source of funding for capacity-building activities (i.e. UNDA)
5. Cooperation with other international
Organizations.
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
4
Support Regional Cooperation on ICT for Development under SPECA
United Nations Special Programme on Economies in Central Asia (SPECA)
Project Working Group (PWG) on ICT for Development
(Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan + Afghanistan).
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
5
Major Output
Regional Capacity-building seminar on ICT Policymaking, Bishkek,
Kyrgyzstan, 11-14 July 2006
• Sharing best practices on how to integrate ICT policies into national
development plans, descussion on harmonized law reforms related to ICT
development
• Networking of ICT Policymakers.
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
6
Major Output
• Seminar on Information and Communication Policy and Legal Issues, Dushanbe, Tajikistan (30-31 October 2007)
• Seminar on ICT Policymaking, Baku, Azerbaijan (26-27 November 2007).
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
7
Promotion of Harmonized ICT Law Reforms
Publication on Information and Communication Technology Policy and Legal Issues for Central Asia (October 2007)
• At the request of SPECA PWG on ICT for Development
• Hightlights legal issues on ICT infrastructure, legal certainty, security, IPR and ICT crimes
• Content is relevant for all ECE member countries.
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
8
Other activities on ICT access issues
Workshop on Broadband and ICT Development for Improved Communication in Central Asia, Tashkent, Uzbekistan (21-22 June 2007)
http://broadband.ictp.uz/
TASHKENT STATEMENT on Broadband and ICT Development for Improved Communication in Central Asia.
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
9
Other specialized Capacity-building activities on ICT Access Points
UN Development Account (UNDA) Project on
Knowledge Networks through ICT Access Points for Disadvantaged Communities
Joint project of the 5 UN Regional Commissions Objective: to empower poor and disadvantaged communities
through transforming existing ICT access points into knowledge hubs
ECE preparing Regional Review of the ICT Access Points (incl. Central Asia)
Capacity-building activities planned in 2008-2009 by our partner organization in Central Asia.
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
10
Future Activities
• Continued capacity-building support on ICT and Legal Issues under the framework of SPECA
• Other demand-driven capacity-building activities on requests.
Agenda 21 and the Information Society 13 December 2007
11
For further informationMichiko Enomoto
Economic Affairs OfficerECID/UNECE