It’s been a year since we adopted the Sustainable Development Goals – a new roadmap for international development.
It is an exciting time for those of us who focus on bringing Information and Communication Technologies to the world. While Goal 9 calls out the need for Internet access, it is also clear that Internet development is key to accomplish all the SDGs.
But the task is a big one. Rough estimates say we’ll need at least $1 trillion of additional annual investment in developing and emerging economies to achieve them.
It’s numbers like these that have a lot of people wondering if achieving the goals is possible. We say it is.
We’re In This Together
If we’re serious about bringing the Internet to the world — and we are — it’s going to take all of us.
The Internet community will need to form new and different partnerships that will bring us outside of our traditional expertise. Likewise, the International Development and Aid agencies can benefit from the deep expertise we hold in Internet policy, development, and technology.
That’s why we are launching the Regional Internet & Development Dialogues (RIDD) around the world. The objective of these meetings will be to bring together International Development and Aid agencies, governments, businesses, and people. Together, come up with concrete plans on what we can do to help connect the next billion and how we can work together to help those plans succeed.
The discussions will begin in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 3rd and 4th where Internet Society, in partnership with United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) are organizing the first of this series of events.
The second RIDD planned for 2016 will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, organized by Internet Society in partnership with the Interamerican Development Bank (IADB) and the government of Argentina. It begins 8 November 2016.
Representatives of organizations like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Economic Forum (WEF), World Bank, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), organizations of the Internet Community and others will join this discussion.
If you have a voice and a passion for helping the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals we need you there.
A Chance To Think Differently
This is the opportunity to provide a fresh view on the issues, as well as an opportunity to identify and create synergies.
Throughout 2017 we plan to continue bringing these dialogues around the world, each with a focus on local challenges and solutions that work.
We Can Do This
By working together, we have the opportunity to create one of the biggest win-wins in history.
The more inclusive we are, the better our collective outcomes will be.
When people get access to the Internet, it can change just about everything. It can help us fight to end inequality, get access to quality education, and build partnerships to move things forward.
Join us. If you would like to take part in one of the Dialogues, please get in touch.