Session
Round Table - 90 Min
Addressing Challenges in Developing a Unified Digital Platform for Small Island Developing States in the Global Digital Economy
Overview:
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique challenges in the global digital economy, including limited access to resources, infrastructure, and technology. The Dynamic Coalition on Small Island Developing States in the Internet Economy (DC-SIDS) is committed to addressing these challenges by developing a unified, shared digital platform that empowers SIDS to participate fully in the global digital economy. However, developing such a platform comes with its own set of challenges. This roundtable workshop will bring together stakeholders to identify and solve the challenges of developing a unified digital platform for SIDS.
Objectives:
- To explore the previous and existing attempts to bring SIDS together via digital and other means, and explore their relative successes and failures.
- To identify the challenges faced in developing a unified digital platform for SIDS and explore potential solutions.
- To discuss the benefits of a unified digital platform for SIDS and its potential impact on economic development, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
- To showcase successful examples of digital platforms that have benefited SIDS and explore how they can be adapted to other SIDS.
- To develop strategies for addressing the challenges of developing a unified digital platform for SIDS.
Participants
The Roundtable will bring together policymakers, industry experts, civil society representatives, and academics from SIDS and non-SIDS countries. The workshop will also seek to include representatives from marginalized communities within SIDS, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Format
The session will be conducted as a Roundtable discussion, with participants invited to share their experiences, perspectives, and ideas. The session will begin with a brief introduction of the DC-SIDS and its objectives, followed by a panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of developing a unified digital platform for SIDS. The panel will include representatives from SIDS and non-SIDS countries, as well as industry experts. The discussion will be followed by an open floor discussion, where participants will be invited to share their experiences and perspectives on the challenges raised. The Roundtable will conclude with the development of strategies for addressing the challenges of developing a unified digital platform for SIDS.
Expected Outcomes
The workshop is expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
- Increased understanding of the challenges faced in developing a unified digital platform for SIDS.
- Identification of potential solutions and opportunities for SIDS to participate fully in the global digital economy.
- Increased collaboration between SIDS and non-SIDS countries, industry, civil society, and academia to develop a unified digital platform for SIDS.
- Strategies for addressing the challenges of developing a unified digital platform for SIDS that are inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.
Conclusion
The workshop will provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, share experiences, and develop strategies for addressing the challenges of developing a unified digital platform for SIDS. The workshop aims to contribute to the broader goal of empowering SIDS to participate fully in the global digital economy, promote economic development, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
- Maureen Hilyard, Vice Chair, ICANN At Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), Civil Society, Asia Pacific-Cook Islands (Onsite Moderator)
- Tracy Hackshaw, Director, Trinidad & Tobago Multistakeholder Advisory Group, Technical Community, GRULAC-Trinidad and Tobago (Onsite Moderator)
- 2023 Internet Society Youth Ambassador (Rapporteur)
Kindly note that, as is usual with the Annual DC-SIDS IGF Meeting, our format is not one that uses a "talking heads" approach, rather it utilizes the pioneering "Roundtable" approach we introduced at IGF 2012 whereby the session is led by topic discussants, with full participation and engagement from all meeting participants throughout the meeting. In this regard, a list of "speakers", in the traditional sense, is not something that we propose utilizing. We have identified a volunteer list of discussants, based on DC-SIDS Mailing List discussions.
NOTE: This list may change closer to the IGF as clarity emerges who will likely be onsite and who will be online:
Rodney Taylor, Secretary General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), Government-International Governmental Organization (IGO), GRULAC-Barbados
Cherie Lagakali, GFCE Advisory Board member 2020/2022 and GFCE Pacific Liaison/PICISOC, Civil Society, Asia Pacific-Fiji
Genelle Lake, GRULAC-Trinidad and Tobago
Michele Marius, GRULAC-Jamaica
June Parris, Member, CIVICUS, Civil Society, GRULAC-Barbados
Patrick Hosein, GRULAC-Trinidad and Tobago
Lance Hinds, ICANN ALAC, CEO, Brainstreet Group, Civil Society, GRULAC-Guyana
Niel Harper, GRULAC-Barbados
Carlton Samuels, GRULAC-Jamaica
Tracy Hackshaw
Maureen Hilyard
Internet Society 2023 Youth Ambassador (Rapporteur)
1. No Poverty, 3. Good Health and Well-Being, 4. Quality Education, 7. Affordable and Clean Energy, 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth, 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 10. Reduced Inequalities
Targets: A Unified Digital Platform can help SIDS achieve several of these goals. For example, it can help promote economic growth and job creation. It can also help improve access to education and healthcare. In addition, it can help promote sustainable development by reducing the environmental impact of economic activities.
Specific goals that the SIDS Unified Digital Platform can help achieve include:
Goal 1: No Poverty - A SIDS Unified Digital Platform can help promote economic growth and job creation.
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being - A SIDS Unified Digital Platform can help improve access to healthcare.
Goal 4: Quality Education - A SIDS Unified Digital Platform can help improve access to education.
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy - A SIDS Unified Digital Platform can help promote sustainable development by reducing the environmental impact of economic activities.
To align with the SDGs, a SIDS Unified Digital Platform should be designed to be inclusive and accessible to all. It should also be designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. Finally, it should be designed to promote collaboration between different stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia.