World’s most vulnerable countries on track to achieve universal Internet access by 2020 – UN report
The world’s least developed countries are narrowing ‘digital divide,’ and with millions of people now taking advantage of smart phones and other digital devices, keeping up this momentum can put their societies on the fast track to sustainable development, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
At Davos forum, UN agency launches report spotlighting benefits of investing in better migration data
Investing in value-based migration data that squarely focuses on impact can benefit the world to the tune of $35 billion dollars, according to a new report launched Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland, by the United Nations migration agency.
Make digital world safer for children, increase online access to benefit most disadvantaged – UNICEF
Governments and the private sector have not kept up with the game-changing pace of digital technologies, exposing children to new risks and harms – both on and offline – and leaving millions of the most disadvantaged behind, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Monday in a new report.
Half of all countries aware but lacking national plan on cybersecurity, UN agency reports
Only about half of all countries have a cybersecurity strategy or are in the process of developing one, the United Nations telecommunications agency today reported, urging more countries to consider national policies to protect against cybercrime.
Switzerland tops world innovation index; India and other emerging markets on the rise – UN agency
Innovation is a key development tool that could boost economies and provide a way out of the growing squeeze on the world's food resources – one of the major challenges of the 21st century – according to a new United Nations report.
Innovators, UN discuss using tech to tackle world’s development challenges
From drones dropping food and medicines, to handheld devices that can diagnose Ebola with a drop of blood, the latest technological advances are converging to make the “unthinkable happen,” said global innovators and heads of tech companies invited to the United Nations today to discuss how to emerging technologies can boost achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With nearly 4 billion people still offline, UN forum to tackle ”digital divide”
International organizations, governments, academics, and technology leaders will gather at the IGF to address the urgent need to intensify global efforts to bridge the digital divide.
Internet Governance Forum to intensify efforts toward fostering accessible web for all
With a focus on addressing the challenges of today’s digital age and how to leverage the Internet to ensure it provides equal access to opportunities, the busy week-long Forum will run from today until December 9.
On World Telecommunication Day, UN hails role of IT in sustainable development
The global sustainable development agenda recognizes the great potential of information and communication technology to accelerate human progress, bridge the digital divide and advance knowledge, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, marking World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
At high-level forum, UN spotlights power of IT in development
Tech has the power to help people around the world bridge the digital divide, Ban Ki-moon underlined at the opening of a high-level forum of the ICT for development community.
FAO, Google collaborate on satellite data tools to manage natural resources
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Google announced plans to make high-resolution satellite data a common tool in managing the world’s natural resources, boosting efforts towards the pursuit of sustainable development.
Ban appoints group to support tech facilitation mechanism
The Mechanism comprises a UN interagency task team on science, technology and innovation, an annual multistakeholder forum and an online platform.
Media advisory: Discussions on ICTs for Sustainable Development Goals
To harness the potential of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) for improving people’s lives and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, high-level representatives from governments, civil society and the private sector will gather at the UN headquarters in New York from 15 to 16 December to review progress on the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS).
10th Internet Governance Forum enhances the linkages between the Internet and sustainable development
The 2015 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) succeeded in giving some 4,000 online participants, from 116 developed and developing countries, the opportunity to engage directly with 2,400 on-site attendees in output-oriented debates that addressed the challenges, as well as opportunities for the future of the internet.
Sustainable development at center of 10th Internet Governance Forum
Approximately 5,000 people, including high-level government officials, civil society leaders and internet policy experts, will gather both - in-person and online - at the 10th Annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in João Pessoa, Brazil (10 to 13 November) to discuss the crucial role the internet must play in the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.