Regional Plan of Action for Building the Information Society (RPoA) and Partnership in Implementation Mansour Farah Team Leader and Senior Information Technology Officer, ICT Division, ESCWA Mansour Farah Team Leader and Senior Information Technology Officer, ICT Division, ESCWA Expert Group Meeting on Regional Networking and Partnership for the Information Society Development Beirut, 5-6 September 2007 Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (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 fulfill 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 fulfill 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 Feedbacks 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 Feedbacks 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) system Modularity Open-endedness Government priority Partnership Decentralization Results-based management (RBM) system 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 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 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

RPoA Proposed Programmes

Criteria for adding Programmes Programme is presented in a clear and concise format (RPoA uses the Resut-Based Management paradigm); Programme has a coordinating agency; Programme has a high impact on a number of areas that are identified in the RPoA strategic framework. Programme is presented in a clear and concise format (RPoA uses the Resut-Based Management paradigm); Programme has a coordinating agency; Programme has a high impact on a number of areas that are identified in the RPoA strategic framework. Programmes could be added once they satisfy the following criteria :

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

List of Programmes 1. ICT for economic development; 2. Developing e-government services; 3. Empowering Arab NGOs in the information society; 4. Developing telecommunications infrastructure; 5. Developing the ICT sector; 6. Women empowerment in the information society; 7. Information society measurements; 8. Promoting digital Arabic content; 9. ICT in education and scientific research; 10. Increasing community access with emphasises on the marginalized and disabled. 1. ICT for economic development; 2. Developing e-government services; 3. Empowering Arab NGOs in the information society; 4. Developing telecommunications infrastructure; 5. Developing the ICT sector; 6. Women empowerment in the information society; 7. Information society measurements; 8. Promoting digital Arabic content; 9. ICT in education and scientific research; 10. Increasing community access with emphasises on the marginalized and disabled.

RPoA Proposed Projects

Projects: Actions translated into results Originally, there were 38 projects distributed among 10 programmes; Each project has a coordinating/leading agency; Projects are regional in nature, with most having national components; Regional projects recommended by the Taskforce for the Realization of the Arab Strategy are included and flagged as most important for the Arab Governments; Implementation starts upon maturity. Originally, there were 38 projects distributed among 10 programmes; Each project has a coordinating/leading agency; Projects are regional in nature, with most having national components; Regional projects recommended by the Taskforce for the Realization of the Arab Strategy are included and flagged as most important for the Arab Governments; Implementation starts upon maturity. 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 Evaluating

Proposed Implementation Modality

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

Modified Four-Sector Model > International and regional agencies Endowment income (I) High impact entrepreneurs and partnerships (IV) Universities(II) Mature Firms Venture funds and investments Tax and other revenuesEquity and debt (III) Government Banks and donor organizations NGOs > Strategic investment > Transfer of human capital > Purchase of goods > R & D funding > Purchase of innovative goods > Transfer of technology > Transfer of human capital R & D Funding R & D Funding

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 ICT Partnership Online 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

List 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 women’s 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

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