ESCWAs Regional Plan of Action for Building the Information Society (RPoA) Mansour Farah Team Leader and Senior Information Technology Officer, ICT Division, ESCWA Mansour Farah Team Leader and Senior Information Technology Officer, ICT Division, ESCWA Workshop on Public-Private Partnership for ICT Initiatives Riyadh, February 2008 United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA)

Objectives of the RPoA To build a sustainable and inclusive information society in the region, in line with WSIS Geneva Plan of Action To propose a comprehensive strategic framework To foster partnerships and propose a modality for implementation To achieve the Millennium Development Goals To build a sustainable and inclusive information society in the region, in line with WSIS Geneva Plan of Action To propose a comprehensive strategic framework To foster partnerships and propose a modality for implementation To achieve the Millennium Development Goals

RPoA: Result of Collaborative Efforts Arab ICT strategy, adopted by the Arab Summit in 2001 Pan-Arab regional conference on WSIS, in Cairo, June 2003, including Cairo declaration Tentative plan of action for the information society in the region, produced by ESCWA in December 2003 WSIS-Geneva global Plan of Action (PoA) Series of round tables planned by ESCWA during 2004 to address regional specificity Efforts of the Taskforce on Realization of the Arab Strategy Feedback from the ESCWA Second Regional Preparatory Conference for WSIS and an online forum Arab ICT strategy, adopted by the Arab Summit in 2001 Pan-Arab regional conference on WSIS, in Cairo, June 2003, including Cairo declaration Tentative plan of action for the information society in the region, produced by ESCWA in December 2003 WSIS-Geneva global Plan of Action (PoA) Series of round tables planned by ESCWA during 2004 to address regional specificity Efforts of the Taskforce on Realization of the Arab Strategy Feedback from the ESCWA Second Regional Preparatory Conference for WSIS and an online forum Listed in chronological order

Evolving RPoA Partnership Decentralization Results-based management (RBM) Modularity Open-endedness Government priority Partnership Decentralization Results-based management (RBM) Modularity Open-endedness Government priority Rolling projects Leading responsibility Implementation upon maturity Periodic monitoring and reporting Online follow-up The RPoA can assimilate future needs of Arab countries along with a mechanism to periodically introduce new regional strategic actions, report on progress of work, and adjust the plan accordingly. Considerations include:

RPoA Strategic Framework

Main components of the strategic framework Areas Action lines Programmes Projects The strategic framework aims at streamlining actions at the regional level and at promoting the development of national capacity for achieving the transition towards the information society

WSIS Action Lines (International partnership) C1:The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development C2: Information and communication infrastructure C3: Access to information and knowledge C4: Capacity building C5: Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs C6: Enabling environment C7: ICT Applications: e-government, e-business, e-learning, e-health, e-employment, e-environment, e-agriculture, e- science C8: Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content C9: Media C10:Ethical dimensions of the Information Society C11:International and regional cooperation C1:The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development C2: Information and communication infrastructure C3: Access to information and knowledge C4: Capacity building C5: Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs C6: Enabling environment C7: ICT Applications: e-government, e-business, e-learning, e-health, e-employment, e-environment, e-agriculture, e- science C8: Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content C9: Media C10:Ethical dimensions of the Information Society C11:International and regional cooperation

Areas of interest to the region (Regional partnership) Policies and strategies ICT infrastructure Access to information and knowledge Capacity building Building confidence, trust, and security Enabling environment ICT Applications Cultural, linguistic, and Arabic content Media International and regional cooperation Policies and strategies ICT infrastructure Access to information and knowledge Capacity building Building confidence, trust, and security Enabling environment ICT Applications Cultural, linguistic, and Arabic content Media International and regional cooperation

Lists of Progammes and Project s

1. ICT for economic development 1.1 CyberPort for trade and transport 1.2 CyberHaven for regional tourism development 1.3 Connecting Arab ATM networks 1.4 ICT Hub for SMEs 2. Developing e- government services 2.1 Enhancing government decision support capabilities in the socio-economic fields 2.2 Regional e-government portal 3. Empowering Arab NGO's in the information society 3.1 Arab NGO's information network 3.2 Arab civil society academy for capacity building 4. Developing telecommunications infrastructure 4.1 Towards an integrated regional telecommunications network 4.2 Enhanced broadband access through pilot national applications Programmes Projects (1/4)

5. Developing the ICT sector 5.1 Legislation model for an ICT enabling environment 5.2 Establishment of ICT incubators 5.3 Partnership space for incubating telecommunications projects 6.1 Women empowerment through ICT 6.2 Promoting the rights of women and children through the use of ICT 6.3 Enhancing Arab womens role in development and decision making through the use of ICT 6.4 Gender evaluation methodology for ICT initiatives (GEM) 6. Women empowerment in the information society 7. Information society measurements 7.1 Core ICT indicators 7.2 ICT indicators database 7.3 Capacity building for information society measurement Programmes Projects (2/4)

Programmes Projects (3/4) 8. Promoting digital Arabic content (DAC) 8.1 Establishing a digital Arabic library* 8.2 Connecting Arab documentation centres* 8.3 Developing an Arabic search engine* 8.4 Arabized ICT e-glossary 8.5 Arabic domain name system (ADNS) 8.6 Arab region network for document cataloguing and processing 8.7 Memory of the Arab world 9.1 Regional Hub for capacity building in open source software for education and research 9.2 IT teacher training framework 9.3 Regional scheme for deployment of technical computing software 9.4 Lifelong learning for socio-economic development. 9.5 Networking academies 9.6 Learning object repository in Arabic (LORA) 9. ICT in education and scientific research * These projects have been earmarked as most important by Arab Ministers of Telecommunications and Information Technology

Programmes Projects (4/4) 10. Increasing community access with emphasis on the marginalized and disabled 10.1 Empowerment through community access: total access points* 10.2 PC for Every Home* 10.3 Information technology clubs* 10.4 Empowerment of the visually disabled through ICT 10.5 Market information systems for agriculture and fishing businesses * These projects have been earmarked as most important by Arab Ministers of Telecommunications and Information Technology

RPoA Methodology for Programmes

Programme Details Conceptual overview; Mapping to the areas presented in the strategic framework of RPoA; Outline that includes the programmes main objectives, challenges, implementation strategy, expected accomplishments and indicators of achievements. Conceptual overview; Mapping to the areas presented in the strategic framework of RPoA; Outline that includes the programmes main objectives, challenges, implementation strategy, expected accomplishments and indicators of achievements. Each programme in the RPoA is presented by its champion-partner using the following structure:

Criteria for adding Programmes Presented in a clear and concise format by its champion-partner (RPoA uses the Results-Based Management paradigm); It has a coordinating agency/institution (usually the champion-partner); It has a high impact on a number of areas that are identified in the RPoA strategic framework. Presented in a clear and concise format by its champion-partner (RPoA uses the Results-Based Management paradigm); It has a coordinating agency/institution (usually the champion-partner); It has a high impact on a number of areas that are identified in the RPoA strategic framework. A programme can be added once it satisfies the following criteria :

RPoA Methodology for Projects

Projects: Actions translated into results Originally, there were 38 projects proposed by various partners and distributed among 10 programmes; Each project has a coordinating/leading agency; Projects are regional in nature, with most having national components; Implementation starts upon maturity; Regional projects recommended by the Working Group on the Realization of the Arab Strategy are included and flagged as most important for the Arab Governments. Originally, there were 38 projects proposed by various partners and distributed among 10 programmes; Each project has a coordinating/leading agency; Projects are regional in nature, with most having national components; Implementation starts upon maturity; Regional projects recommended by the Working Group on the Realization of the Arab Strategy are included and flagged as most important for the Arab Governments. The list is an evolving one and will be adjusted as changes on existing projects are made and as new projects are added.

Project Development Phases Phase 1. Preparing the project concept paper Phase 2. Identifying funding agencies and possible partners PhasesOutputs Project Concept Paper (PCP) Preliminary interest for developing a project document Letter of intent Phase 3. Preparing the full project document Project document (ProDoc) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Implementation reports Progress of work report Impact analysis report Phase 4. Implementing the project Monitoring Evaluation

Implementation Modality

Role of different stakeholders International /regional organizations & NGOs Government Mature firms (Private sector) Banks and donor organizations Universities (educational sector)

Suggested Modality Strategic Partners Steering level Steering Committee + Secretariat Programme 1Programme 2Programme n Project 1.1 Project 1.x Project 2.1 Project 2.x Project n.1 Project n.x Programme Level Project Level National Coordination Level

Online Partnership Space Development of Knowledge repository Partnership Mechanism maturity level Flexibility to update/add programmes Flexibility to update/add projects successes On-line subscription On-line forum to solicit comments and identify partners Transfer of ownership Development of partnership networks Completion of project Shared failures and Project monitoring Project evaluation Programmes RPoA Strategic Framework Main areas of action Project Implementation phase Project Implemented projects: building blocks for developing the information society

Information Society Portal for the ESCWA Region (ISPER)

ISPER (1/2) Provides tools to enhance efficiency of partnerships and efficiency of development work, communication and cooperation; Deploys modern online tools for collaboration among stakeholders: Real-time discussion forums, Collaboratively generated content, Syndicated content feeds, Up-to-date content on projects and priorities in the region, Real-time dissemination of statistical indicators. Provides tools to enhance efficiency of partnerships and efficiency of development work, communication and cooperation; Deploys modern online tools for collaboration among stakeholders: Real-time discussion forums, Collaboratively generated content, Syndicated content feeds, Up-to-date content on projects and priorities in the region, Real-time dissemination of statistical indicators.

ISPER (2/2) Constitutes a source of information on the Arab ICT Strategy; Is a one-stop-shop on implementation details Catalyzes partnerships between project implementers and donors; Fosters partnerships by: Raising awareness of available project Providing market intelligence Catalyzing community of practice Constitutes a source of information on the Arab ICT Strategy; Is a one-stop-shop on implementation details Catalyzes partnerships between project implementers and donors; Fosters partnerships by: Raising awareness of available project Providing market intelligence Catalyzing community of practice

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