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TCND/ Consultant to carry out the Africa WSIS and WSIS +20 Review and Africa’s contribution to the proposed Global Digital Compact

Addis Ababa

  • Organization: UNECA - United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
  • Location: Addis Ababa
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Information Technology and Computer Science
  • Closing Date: Closed

Result of Service

The key expected results of the consultancy assignment are as follows:
a) Improved understanding of the role digital technologies, including new and emerging technologies can play in fostering regional value chains development and structural transformation in Africa.
b) Enhanced understanding and policy directions are provided that contribute to the development of Africa’s digital sector as a crucial element for economic integration.
c) Key findings and policy recommendations emanating from the WSIS review process and outcomes in Africa are discussed and disseminated for further actions by diverse multi-stakeholder groups.
d) A set of policy recommendations are developed and shared with African Governments, African continental and regional organizations, the private sector, civil society and other African stakeholders working towards integration across key regional value chains.

Work Location

Remotely

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background
The World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) is a UN process that includes an annual, multistakeholder Forum where governments, civil societies, private sectors, academia, international organisations, technical communities and others are able to network, partner, and share how to achieve the SDGs and close the gender digital divide through the framework of WSIS Action Lines. The WSIS Forum represents the world's largest annual gathering of the “ICT for development” community.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in its Resolution 70/125, extended the mandate of the WSIS to 2025 and called for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Group and invited the regional commissions to continue their work in implementation of the WSIS action lines and their contribution to the reviews thereof, including through regional reviews (P.68). Pursuant to this, the Ninth Joint AUC-ECA Annual Meetings held in March 2016, adopted a resolution requesting ECA in collaboration with other partners to take all necessary steps in organizing an annual regional review of Africa’s progress on the implementation of the WSIS outcomes in support to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the AU’s Agenda 2063.
The year 2024 will mark the 20th anniversary since the initiation of WSIS. Next year’s Forum will be branded as WSIS+20 and is expected to provide an opportunity to reflect and discuss on the evolution of the WSIS implementation process. It will review what has been achieved in the first quarter of the century, what has failed, what lessons have been learned and how to fulfil the vision outlined by WSIS almost 20 years ago so that everyone can harness the benefits of the digital economy.
On the occasion of the United Nations’ 75th anniversary in September 2020, the Secretary-General released the Our Common Agenda report which proposes a Global Digital Compact to be agreed at the Summit of the Future in September 2024. The Summit aims to re-invigorate the global multilateral institutions for the 2030s and beyond, through a technology track involving a wide range of stakeholders. It is expected that the Global Digital Compact will “outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all.” In preparation for the Summit of the Future and the proposed Digital Compact, the UN is seeking inputs from a wide range of stakeholders.
The Global Digital Compact (GDC), along with the WSIS+20 process, is an opportunity to reinterpret the WSIS vision to respond to the constantly changing digital society that we live in today and accelerate progress towards the achievement of the SDGs.
In this context, as the United Nations, international agencies and regional organizations have begun preparing for the twenty-year review of the WSIS outcomes which is scheduled for 2024/25. Similarly, the ECA in addition to the 2022 annual review of the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines in Africa, will undertake a WSIS+20 assessment exercise as well as an analysis of how WSIS and can serve to advance digital transformation in Africa. To this end, ECA wishes to engage the services of a consultant to undertake an assessment of the WSIS Action Lines implementation in Africa based on the WSIS targets and indicators and provide review of WSIS+20, including in view of the proposed Global Digital Compact showcasing selected country experiences in adopting ICTs for their key socio-economic priority areas, the implementation of the SDGs.

Under the guidance of the Director of Technology, Climate Change & Natural Resource Management Division (TCND) and the supervision of the Chief of the Technology and Innovation Section, the Consultant will perform the following tasks:
i) In consultation with the Section, the consultant will develop a work plan of the assignment, indicating a clear list of deliverables, deadlines with a proposed selected country experiences in implementing WSIS across specified Action Lines.
ii) Review progress made in 2022 in the implementation of the WSIS outcomes for Africa’s transformation and meeting the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals and the AU Agenda 2063, including with focus on specific country examples.
iii) Carry out the WSIS+20 review featuring a section with Africa’s proposals and priorities for inclusion in the Global Digital Compact in terms of the shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all.
iv) Compile and submit the overall Africa WSIS review document which will include the above outputs with policy recommendations and priorities for the Africa annual WSIS implementation reviews, Africa’s role in the Global Digital Compact, the WSIS+20 and beyond agenda.
v) Provide policy recommendations for consideration by African policy- and decision-makers in harnessing digital technologies for inclusive and sustainable development.

The key expected results of the consultancy assignment are as follows:
a) Improved understanding of the role digital technologies, including new and emerging technologies can play in fostering regional value chains development and structural transformation in Africa.
b) Enhanced understanding and policy directions are provided that contribute to the development of Africa’s digital sector as a crucial element for economic integration.
c) Key findings and policy recommendations emanating from the WSIS review process and outcomes in Africa are discussed and disseminated for further actions by diverse multi-stakeholder groups.
d) A set of policy recommendations are developed and shared with African Governments, African continental and regional organizations, the private sector, civil society and other African stakeholders working towards integration across key regional value chains.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced University degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in information and communication technologies (ICT), information management, or development studies or related field or other relevant area is required. A Bachelor's degree in information and communication technologies (ICT), information management, or development studies or related field of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of 5 years of either practical substantive experience in undertaking research, providing advice and supporting governments in the field of information and communication technologies at national or regional level is required.
Experience in digital strategies, policies, legal and regulatory frameworks towards building a digital economy at national level or sub-regional and regional level is desirable.
Experience in ICT policy research including in preparing policy, legal and regulatory frameworks for the digital economy in a developing country is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working language of the United Nations. For the consultancy advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the other language is desirable.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

This vacancy is now closed.
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