Exploring Frontier technologies for harnessing digital public good and advancing Digital Inclusion – Pre 03 2025

by Dynamic Coalition on Digital inclusion and Gender Equality

12 May 2025 | 09:00 - 10:15 CEST | Room 8
Consolidated programme 2025

Session teaser

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, achieving true digital inclusion remains a global challenge. Despite technological advances, 2.6 billion people are still offline, with women, rural populations, and persons with disabilities disproportionately affected. To bridge digital divides and harness digital public goods for sustainable development, UNESCO Information for All Programme (IFAP) jointly with the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), and other key stakeholders created IGF DC-Digital Inclusion in February 2024, in line with IFAP Strategic Plan for 2023-2029 and contributing to the implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC).

This year marks the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). In collaboration with the European University Institute (EUI) and the Tech and Global Affairs Innovation Hub at Sciences Po, the IFAP Issue Brief "Human Rights-Centered Global Governance of Quantum Technology" will be launched in this session, aiming to explore how frontier digital technologies can contribute to advancing digital inclusion and fostering inclusive knowledge societies. It will also feature a discussion on the draft IFAP Issue Brief "Empowering Libraries for Digital Inclusion," developed jointly with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

Session description

At its core, the Coalitions mission is committed to fostering inclusive digital policies and AI governance through multistakeholder collaboration and digital measurement frameworks. The Coalition also seeks to bridge gender divides in digital access, meaningful connectivity, literacy, and participation, while promoting women’s leadership in the digital age. By advocating evidence-based approaches and sharing best practices, the Coalition aims to strengthen multistakeholder engagement and advance data-driven digital policies at all levels. The session will trigger discussion on how to apply evidence-based approaches and digital measurements frameworks to shape inclusive AI governance, regulation, and policies through the Dynamic Coalition.

The session serves a follow up the DC event convened EuroDIG 2024, when DC-Digital Inclusion facilitated discussions on inclusive digital policies and the need for improved measurement indicators. Speakers addressed challenges such as unequal access to technology, digital literacy gaps, language barriers and youth participation in digital policy design.

The discussion builds upon the insights derived from the IFAP Working Groups-organized events such as the “Artificial Intelligence, Accessibility, and Human-Centered Digital Futures”, AI for Accessibility (AI4IA) Conference and IFAP triggered debates on Generative AI Regulation at IGF 2023.

The session has three objectives:

1. Present the DC members’ ongoing exploration and outcomes in exploring the multiple implications of frontier digital technologies ranging from AI including generative AI, quantum technology, etc, on building digital inclusion and knowledge societies.
2. Trigger strategic discussion among the members and stakeholders of the Dynamic Coalition on the strategy, actions and work plans of the coalition.
3. Call upon European and international stakeholders to join the Coalition in promoting gender-transformative policies, digital participation, and inclusive governance. Promote visibility of the coalition to engage further with Eurodig stakeholders for synergies and collaboration.

Background:

IGF Dynamic Coalition on Measuring Digital Inclusion (DC-Digital Inclusion) was born out of the desire to establish principles and policies for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable knowledge societies through collaboration between IFAP and its partners. This IGF’s Dynamic Coalition sees the joint efforts of IFAP, Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), Regional Centre for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (CETIC), United Nations University Group on Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV), Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Established by UNESCO Member States in 2001, the Information for All Programme (IFAP) serves as a platform for fostering international collaboration and partnerships aimed at cultivating inclusive and sustainable Knowledge Societies. IFAP recognizes six priority areas: Information for Development, Information Literacy, Information Preservation, Information Ethics, Information Accessibility, and Multilingualism in cyberspace.

In line with IFAP Strategic Plan 2023-2029 and at the heart of IFAP’s mission lie its endeavours to mainstream principles and policies for inclusive, equitable and sustainable knowledge societies into national development plans and promote measurement frameworks designed to identify and address digital disparities both within and across nations and communities.

The Coalition aims to achieve the below objectives:

1. Raise awareness of and advocating for monitoring mechanisms and frameworks that facilitate evidence-based policymaking of digital inclusion for closing digital gender inequalities.
2. Exchange on methodologies, results and good practice on the implementation of evidence-based approaches and measuring digital inclusion and the digital participation of women and girls at all stages, from STEM education to technology development and usage.
3. Share and promote accurate data collection and analysis at global, regional and national levels for advancing digital inclusion and gender equality.
4. Understand frontier technologies, particularly AI, and update measurement tools to foster inclusiveness and empowerment of women and girls in the digital age.
5. Foster opportunities for women's participation, entrepreneurship and leadership in digital transformation and shape gender-inclusive policies and capacity-building initiatives targeted at women and girls.

Format

Pre-events should give the opportunity to create synergies with 3 rd parties i.e. Dynamic Coalitions, Partners. No session principles apply. They are held on day zero in parallel to setting up the venue for EuroDIG. We provide limited technical support.

Let us know here what you want to do.

Further reading

• IFAP Issue Brief "Human Rights-Centered Global Governance of Quantum Technology"
• Pls submit your Membership form to join the DC-Digital Inclusion

People

Moderator: Dr. Xianhong Hu, Programme Specialist, Secretariat of Information for All Programme (IFAP), Communication and Information Sector of UNESCO

Rapporteur: Ms Yichen Liu, Consultant of IFAP Secretariat

Online Moderator: Pol Villaverde, Intern of IFAP Secretariat

Agenda

• Opening (15')
  • Welcome Remarks from Mr Guilherme Canela De Souza Godoi, the Director for Digital Inclusion, Policy and Transformation and the IFAP Secretary of UNESCO [Video message] (5')
  • Welcome Remarks from Mr Cordel Green, Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, Vice-Chairman of UNESCO Information For All Programme (IFAP), Chairman of the UNESCO-IFAP Working Group on Information Accessibility. [Video message] (tbc) (5')
  • Introduction Presentation: DC-digital inclusion’s growth and impact: Calling for your Participation by Xianhong Hu, UNESCO [in person] (5')
• Thematic Presentations of DC Issues Briefs (20')
  • Presentation on IFAP Issue Brief “Human Rights Centered Global Governance of Quantum technology” by Ms Shamira Ahmed, Executive director of the Data Economy Policy Hub (DepHUB) [in person] (10'), Ms Constance Bommelaer de Leusse, Tech and Global Affairs Innovation Hub at Sciences Po [online] jointly
  • Presentation of draft Issue Brief “Empowering Libraries for Digital Inclusion” by Ms. Maria De Brasdefer, Digital Affairs Policy and Advocacy Officer, IFLA [online] (10')
• Strategic Discussions and sharing good practices of DC Members & Stakeholders (20’)
  • Mr. Morten Meyerhoff Nielsen, EGOV Adviser, Principal Research Specialist and Research Line Coordinator, UNU-EGOV [online] (5')
  • Ms. Onica Makwakwa, Executive Director, Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP) [online] (5')
  • Charlotte Gilmartin, Co-Secretary of the Steering Committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI) , the Council of Europe [in person] (5')
  • Janine Oliveira, Executive Director Business Development, Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo and Delaney Gomez-Jackson, Language Services Manager, Motorola Mobility (5')
• Q and A (10')

Transcript

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