Recognizing WSIS Impacts

WTDC RESOLUTION 35 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010)

Support for development of the African information and communication technology sector

The World Telecommunication Development Conference (Hyderabad, 2010),

• considering
  • the provisions of the ITU Constitution, as contained in Chapter IV thereof on the Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D), particularly with regard, inter alia, to the functions of the Sector for building awareness of the impact of telecommunications/information and communication technologies (ICTs) on national economic and social development, its catalytic role in promoting the development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and networks, especially in developing countries, and the need to maintain and enhance cooperation with regional and other telecommunication organizations,
• considering further
  • Resolution 31 (Kyoto, 1994) of the PlenipotentiaryConference on telecommunication infrastructure and socio-economic and cultural development, highlighting:
  • a)telecommunications/ICTs as a prerequisite for development;
  • b)their impact on agriculture, health, education, transport, human settlement, etc.;
  • c)the continuing decline in development resources available to developing countries,
• noting
  • a)that, in its Declaration and resolutions, the World Telecommunication Development Conference (Doha, 2006) reaffirmed a commitment to enhancing expansion and development of telecommunication services in developing countriesand harnessing capacity for the application of new and innovative services;
  • b)the adoption of the Doha Action Plan, incorporating key chapters on global information infrastructure development and the specialprogramme for least developed countries,
• aware
  • that the ITU Council, in its Resolution 1184 on WTDC-02, urged the conference to place special emphasis on the problem of “bridging the digital divide”,
• taking note of
  • a)the recognition by the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution 56/37 of the adoption by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session (Lusaka, July 2001) of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD);
  • b)the actions for NEPAD set out in annex hereto;
  • c)the declaration by the Economic and Social Council on the role ofthe United Nations system in supporting the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development,
• taking cognizance of
  • a)the operative paragraphs of United NationsResolution 56/218 on the final review and appraisal of the UN New Agenda for the Development of Africa, relating to consideration of plans and modalities during 2002 for future engagement with NEPAD and calling on the United Nations system and the international community to support the New African Initiative and to ensure effective representation;
  • b)the conclusions of the Geneva and Tunis phases of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the work under way to implement the African Regional Action Plan for the Knowledge Economy (ARAPKE);
  • c)the call made on 23 November 2004 by the Summit of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementing Committee (HSGIC) for an effective implementation of the NEPAD ICT programme;
  • d)the request made by the Abuja Declaration of African ministers in charge of telecommunications and ICT on infrastructure development to provide appropriate financial resources to support NEPAD ICT activities;
  • e)the decisions taken by the Connect Africa summit held in Kigali in October 2007;
  • f)the request, formulated in the Addis Ababa Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government during the 14th Conference of the African Union, that an African digital agenda be set;
  • g)the appeal made by the conference referred to in f)above to development partners, especially financing institutions, to integrate telecommunications/ICTs into their priorities by granting them financing conditions similar to those of other basic public utility infrastructures,
• recognizing
  • that, in spite of the impressive growth and expansion in infocommunication services recorded in the African region since WTDC-98, many areas of major concern still exist and considerable disparities persist in the region, and the digital divide continues to widen,
• resolves to instruct the Director ofthe Telecommunication Development Bureau
  • 1 to mobilize the resources needed to implement this resolution, which complements the resolutions resulting from the 14th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa in February 2010, on the theme “Information and communication technologies in Africa: challengesand prospects for development”;
  • 2 to pay particular attention to implementation of the provisions of the ITU-D Action Plan relating to the recommendations of the report “Partnership framework for ICT infrastructure development in Africa”, earmarking resources so that this can be permanently monitored,
• requests the Secretary-General
  • to bring this resolution to the attention of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Guadalajara, 2010) with a view to its releasing appropriate financial resources for activities to support NEPAD, in particular from the surplus on world telecommunication exhibitions and forums (ITU TELECOM).