Description: If we want to really create an impact in a short time to connect the unconnected, it is essential to explore policy options that address the right population targets and the specific barriers for each of these groups. Who are these groups? How can we define their needs as most pressing than others? One could list: people with disabilities, displaced people (refugees, migrants), senior people, children, women. But how to prioritize the target beneficiaries, where and through what means are questions that beg for an answer at a broader level using more refined policy tools than in the past. This is the user-based dimension of the problem.
In addition, this challenge faces the “supply-side” of the equation, i.e. the public policy component. Policy makers face many kinds of vulnerabilities to address this issue effectively, from lack of resources (human, financial, organizational), lack of influence to escalate the issue, lack of evidence, policy fragmentation within state departments and political animosity to cooperate with other sectors, to name but a few.
The session will invite speakers with diverse backgrounds and representing different interests to learn from their experience and the potential impact of their proposals. It will also be a venue to discuss qualitative and quantitative evidence about the issue and also to assess different target groups’ and the prioritization strategies.
This workshop will also serve to discuss examples of policies that could have an impact on the identified target groups.
The format of the session will be a combination of short answers to different questions presented by the moderators and intervention from the audience.
The proposed structure is the following:
5’: Moderators’ introduction
25’: First round of interventions from panelists (5’ each)
5’: Questions and comments from moderators
15’: Second round of interventions from panelists (3’ each)
3’: Moderators open floor to questions/interventions from audience
15’: Third round of interventions to feedback from audience (3’ each)
2’: Moderators open floor to last round of questions and comments from audience
10’: Final round of interventions and closing remarks from panelists (2’ each)
5’: Closing words from moderators
Expected Outcomes: The session will produce a set of proposals, thoughts and evidence to address the policy question. This discussion will assist policy makers to define their proposals at country, regional and global level. It will also serve to position the different perspectives from other stakeholder groups that are vital to accomplish the delivery of this goal.
The rapporteur will prepare a report summarizing the main ideas and proposals.
The organizers will also use the takeaways of this workshop as a kick off of a complementary initiative that will to make a deeper compilation of the different contributions both from panelists and audience and to disseminate the results to interested parties.
