IGF 2020 WS #76 Lessons Learned – best practice examples of digital tools us

Information

Session

Thematic Track:

Topic(s):

Connecting the Unconnected
Design for Inclusion
Infrastructure

Organizer 1: Civil Society, Eastern European Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, African Group
Organizer 3: Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Speaker 1: Ashim Rai, Government, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Steffen Hess, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Su Kahumbu-Stephanou , Civil Society, African Group

Format:

Other - 90 Min
Format description: Fishbowl: Speakers introduce best-practice examples from different countries (5-10 minutes each); Participants are invited to join in and shortly give feedback, outline their own experiences, and discuss the opportunities and possibilities for an approach to work in a different geographical, cultural, administrative, and social context. Arrangement of chairs is a round table in an U-shape.

Description:

How can digitalisation in rural areas be shaped fairly and with bearing in mind to include everybody and leave no one behind? How can digital offers take up the unique characteristics of rural areas? How can the challenges and chances of the digital world be utilised to connect communities and enable inclusion? The workshop aims to collectively introduce best-practice examples of digitally connecting rural areas in different parts of the world and discuss if and how a tool or a method that works well in one country may also be implemented in other countries. The examples will come from different sectors, such as Agriculture/Farming (icow, Kenya), Social connectivity (Digitale Dörfer, Germany), Internet access and connectivity (https://bluetown.com/) Three to Five speakers are invited to shortly introduce their approach before the floor is opened to participants to voice their opinions, bring in their own examples, and discuss the possibilities of transfers. Participants are highly encouraged to introduce examples from the above named sectors or additionally projects concerning E-Health, Mobility, Access to cultural content, Education, Online Banking, Environmental Issues etc. Questions for the speakers and for each participant to consider before attending the session: • Short Introduction of the sector the project is working in, time frame, successes etc. • Conditions in the country and area the project is implemented • Terms of failure and success • Ideas if and how a transfer is possible and which conditions need/should be given. Proposed Format: Fishbowl: Speakers introduce best-practice examples from different countries (5-10 minutes each); Participants are invited to join in and shortly give feedback, outline their own experiences, and discuss the opportunities and possibilities for an approach to work in a different geographical, cultural, administrative, and social context.

Issues:

Following issues will be addressed: 1. Using capacity building for inclusion 2. Using technology for inclusion 3. Ensuring social inclusion

Policy Question(s):

1. Using capacity building for inclusion Topics: Digital skills, digital literacy, infrastructure Example: How do we ensure that Internet governance processes are truly inclusive? What needs to be done to enhance the capacity of different actors (and especially those in developing and least-developed countries) to actively contribute to such processes and whose responsibility is it? 2. Using technology for inclusion Topics: Design for inclusion, Connecting the Unconnected, Local Content Development How do we manage the social inclusion within the community affected with technology, as the ICT could bring the change in their social relation? 3. Ensuring social inclusion Topics: social incluson, digital divide, meaningful connectivity How do we manage ICT implementation ensuring social inclusion and preventing disruptions in the life of communities that may harm their social convenience, or increase previously existent inequality gaps?

Expected Outcomes:

Our aim is to identify best practices that will work in a number of similar circumstances, be it socially, culturally, or geographically. Ideally, the session will feed into a continued international exchange and the establishment of a network. A short (online) publication introducing best-practice examples may be considered.

Relevance to Internet Governance: In order to successfully develop rural areas and ensure the best possible living and working conditions for everyone, governments must work with the private sector as well as the civil sector. Pilot projects, funded by governments, are often the way towards generating lager schemes and finding solutions that will shape the future.

Relevance to Theme: While urbanisation is still an ongoing process and the majority of the world’s population lives in cities or large communities, the opportunities rural living affords are numerous, especially in regard to climate change, global pandemics (such as Covid-19), etc. Nevertheless, rural areas are often left behind in the grand schemes of governmental digitisation. In many countries, people have become resourceful in bridging the gap between cities and the countryside in order to ensure digital inclusion.

Discussion Facilitation:

- ask potential participants to think about a number of questions and issues beforehand - using digital tools to enable participation (menti etc.) - online + onsite moderators help with coordinating the contributions by participants

Online Participation:

Usage of IGF Official Tool.

SDGs:

GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Production and Consumption
GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals