Dear Isra, Nick and all
Financing is indeed a priority and APC.org has propose a simple way forward by proposing that a working group or task force to work on financing for fixed period of time post WSIS+20 be mandated in the outcome document.
Nick you might remember that both the ideas you share here were in the original report of the WSIS Task Force on Financing Mechanisms convened in Geneva in 2003 and presented in Tunis. Unfortunately these proposals were not accepted and member states did not give financing the attention it deserved. The rest is history -- and is reflected in Africa, 20 years later, having only 38 to 38% internet penetration.
I like Nick's ideas but I think they will only produce benefit alongside a mandated working group or task force.
How will these 'good ideas' be implemented and monitored? Who will be accountable for following up on these good ideas. How can there be certainty that these good ideas meet specific needs of specific regions or communities? And are they really that different from what is underway already? For example the ITU is already working towards the necessary reform in now Universal Service Funds operate.
On their own these good ideas will not have the impact that is needed to deal with a resource gap that is massive -- as huge as the digital inequality gap which is simply not shrinking for many people and parts of the world. In fact, as we move to faster and greater digitalisation those who do not have the basic connectivity, skills or devices become even more marginalised than they already are.
APC’s suggestion is to amend paragraph 72 of the outcome document to read as follows (new text in bold):
We recognise that harnessing ICTs for development and bridging digital divides will require further sustained investment in infrastructure and services, capacity-building, promotion of joint research and development and transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, with public as well as private investment.
We call for the establishment of a dedicated working group or task force to explore and propose financing mechanisms to support implementation of the WSIS vision and goals, building on the outcome of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and giving consideration to public finance, revision of the design and deployment of universal service funds, development bonds, tax revenue, and other forms of private investment and innovative and collaborative approaches.
We remain flexible on the exact wording of this proposal. What we feel is vital is clear and action-oriented recognition that a process is needed for taking financing WSIS implementation seriously.
Read more about this proposal in two recent blogs:
The
WSIS+20 review: Additional ideas to build on APC’s proposal for
a dedicated focus on financing
By Anriette Esterhuysen, Valeria Betancourt and Carlos Rey Moreno
(APC) with input from Konstantinos Komaitis (resident senior
fellow, Democracy and Tech Initiative, Atlantic Council)
Financing
digital equity at WSIS+20: A task force to turn commitments into
action
By Konstantinos Komaitis, Valeria Betancourt and Anriette
Esterhuysen
Also read about an October event organised by APC with the UK government's FCDO and UNESCO and the T20 Task Force on Digital Transformation on financing locally driven and community-centred connectivity initiatives. We hope to launch an actual concrete initiative within the next two years which will complement ISOC's fantastic Co-funding Initiative.
But remember too, and this is really important, that the financing needs of WSIS implementation is about much more than funding the IGF, or even bridging the connectivity gap --- it is about open and effective e-government and digital public services, using tech to improve people's access to education, to health services, a free and independent media, human capacity to use and create digital tools and economies, and so much more. That is why we feel so strongly that it would be a failure if WSIS+20 repeated the oversights of 2003, 2005 and 2010 by not taking financing seriously.
Anriette
Anriette Esterhuysen - anriette@apc.org//anriette@gmail.com Senior advisor global and regional internet governance Association for Progressive Communications www.apc.org//afrisig.org
Hi all,
To Alex’s points, our remarks and written contributions are located on a dedicated page on our website: https://www.internetsociety.org/issues/internet-governance/wsis/
I also concur with Nick’s points on the need for suggesting concrete solutions. As far as we understand, delegates need suggested language that can help bridge the different perspectives. However, focusing on principles may be good to brief government officials new to these topics. It’s up to local community members to identify the right approach and the right people to target, as expressed by Alex.
Best,IsraIsra Rosas, Director, Partnerships and Internet Development
Internet Society
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