Session
Organization's Website
Subtheme
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The session is gathering experts from the region who will be providing strategic insights to promote digital cooperation in the Arab region.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The session is gathering experts from the region who will be providing strategic insights to promote digital cooperation in the Arab region.
Description
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) in collaboration with the League of Arab States (LAS) are organizing the Open Forum on Digital Cooperation in the Arab Region, in a hybrid mode in the context of the global IGF2025, in Lillestrøm, Norway.
The Open Forum builds on the success of the previous editions of the Open Forum on Digital Cooperation in the Arab Region as well as the previous rounds of the Arab Consultation on the WSIS+20 Review and the Global Digital Compact Processes organized by ESCWA in collaboration with the League of Arab States.
During this fifth round of the Arab Consultation, relevant stakeholders and groups from the digital development community are gathering to further discuss the Arab region’s perspectives on the recent global developments in digital cooperation processes, including the GDC implementation and the WSIS+20 review process and their implications on the region.
In this context, selected key messages from the second edition of the Arab International Digital Cooperation and Development Forum (DCDF2.0) in 2025, will be discussed and further elaborated in order to help shape a unified Arab position regarding the WSIS+20 review, ahead of the WSIS+20 High-Level Event (Geneva, 7-11 July 2025) and the UNGA High-Level Meeting on WSIS+20 (NY, 16-17 Dec. 2025) and the way forward for the GDC implementation in the Arab region.
This would enable the Arab region to play a significant and active role in international decision-making forums pertaining to digital cooperation and development.
Remote hub at ESCWA premises will be secured to follow and actively interact with onsite and online speakers and participants during the session
Remote hub at ESCWA premises will be secured to follow and actively interact with onsite and online speakers and participants during the session
Organizers
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA)
● Mr. Khaled Wally, Director of the Communications and Information Technology Development Department, League of Arab States (Regional Organization) ● Mr. Hazem Hezzah, IT program coordinator for ICT development, Information Technology Development Department, League of Arab States (Regional Organization) ● Mr. Ayman El-Sherbiny, Chief of ICT Policies, Digital Cooperation and Digital Development, UNESCWA (International organization) ● Ms. Mirna El Hajj Barbar, Programme Management Officer, UNESCWA (International organization) ● Ms. Rita Wehbe, Economic Affairs Assistant, UNESCWA (International organization)
● Mr. Khaled Wally, Director of the Communications and Information Technology Development Department, League of Arab States (Regional Organization) ● Mr. Hazem Hezzah, IT program coordinator for ICT development, Information Technology Development Department, League of Arab States (Regional Organization) ● Mr. Ayman El-Sherbiny, Chief of ICT Policies, Digital Cooperation and Digital Development, UNESCWA (International organization) ● Ms. Mirna El Hajj Barbar, Programme Management Officer, UNESCWA (International organization) ● Ms. Rita Wehbe, Economic Affairs Assistant, UNESCWA (International organization)
Speakers
● Mr. Khaled Wally, Director of the Communications and Information Technology Development Department, League of Arab States
● Mr. Charles Sha'ban, Arab Multi-stakeholders Programme Advisory Committee (AMPAC), Arab IGF
● Mr. Qusai AlShatti, International Expert on Internet Governance, Former Chair of the Inaugural Arab IGF 2012
● Ms. Christine Arida, Strategic Advisor to the Executive President, National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt
● Mr. Chafic Chaya, RIPE NCC, Regional Manager - Public Policy and Government Affairs, UAE
● Ms. Nermine El Saadany, Regional Vice-President-Middle East, Internet Society
Onsite Moderator
● Mr. Ayman El-Sherbiny, Chief of ICT Policies, UNESCWA ● Ms. Mirna El Hajj Barbar, Programme Management Officer, UNESCWA
Online Moderator
● Mr. Ayman El-Sherbiny, Chief of ICT Policies, UNESCWA ● Ms. Mirna El Hajj Barbar, Programme Management Officer, UNESCWA
Rapporteur
● Ms. Rita Wehbe, Economic Affairs Assistant, UNESCWA
SDGs
9.c
17.6
Targets: 9.c- Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020 17.6- Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism
17.6
Targets: 9.c- Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020 17.6- Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism