Opening Segment 

▪ H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly
▪ H.E. Mr. Munir Akram, President of the Economic and Social Council.
▪ Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations
▪ H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.
▪ Ms. Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director of “Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations” 

Video Presentation

Global Assessment of Digital Cooperation and Connectivity by the United Nations Regional Commissions.    

Multi-Stakeholder Spotlight

Mr. Patrick Gelsinger, CEO, Intel
Mr. Hans Vestberg, CEO, Verizon Communications
H.E. Mrs. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General, the International Organization
of La Francophonie
H.E. Ms. Deema Alyahya, Secretary-General, Digital Cooperation Organisation
Dr. Ahmed Elmagarmid, Executive Director, Qatar Computing Research Institute,
and Ms. Jennifer Colville, UNDP
Ms. Mireia Villar Forner, UN Resident Coordinator in Uruguay  

Panel 1: Ending the Digital Divide by 2030: COVID-19 Recoveries to Accelerate the Decade of Action 

Internet connectivity and digital skills are inextricably linked with more education and job opportunities, and more access to information and services. Adaptations to COVID-19’s impacts are accelerating digitalization, and societies need tools to adapt to these structural changes now to thrive in the emerging digital economy. Yet, these shifts risk entrenching the inequalities that disadvantage the digitally disconnected if substantial efforts are not geared to reduce multidimensional digital divides. The transformational potential of digital connectivity for the SDGs will be best achieved when governments, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders work towards a common goal. 

High-Level Plenary

Member States are invited to focus their statements on contributions to the overall vision, goals and targets of ending the digital divide, enhancing global digital cooperation, and upscaling digital contributions to environmental action by 2030. In this regard, Member States are encouraged to describe national and regional challenges, policy responses and commitments, and announce partnerships, new multistakeholder initiatives and development cooperation.  

Multi-Stakeholder Spotlight

Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and Director-General, UN Office, Vienna
ITU: Child Online Protection Guidelines
Mr. Bob Moritz, Chairman, PwC International
Ms. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO, &
H.E. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, CEO, Dubai Cares
Ms. Alison Bryant, PhD Senior Vice-President, AARP Research and Digital Equity
ITU: AI for SDGs

Panel 2: Equitable Access and Digital Empowerment: Securing a Safe, Inclusive, Free and Open Digital Future For All 

The digital divide reflects and amplifies existing inequalities. The poorest and the most vulnerable in developed and developing countries alike, who are the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis, are also the farthest behind in terms of digital access and opportunities. Without greater, more inclusive digital cooperation and coordination, expanding digital connectivity could risk expanding inequalities between and within countries and economic sectors; enabling technology-facilitated abuse and harassment, particularly targeting women and children; and aiding the spread of disinformation and misinformation that can cause harm and divide communities.  

Multi-Stakeholder Spotlight

H.E. Ms. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, the Republic of Rwanda
Mr. Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA
Mr. Max Schulze, Executive Chairman of the Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance
Ms. Katie Patrick, Environmental Engineer, Designer
Mr. Manav Subodh, Founder, 1 Million for 1 Billion

Panel 3: Greening The Digital Future: Local, Regional and Multilateral Partnership  

Global digital connectivity can facilitate gathering and analyzing the global data needed to achieve the SDGs, and the Multilateral Environmental Agreements on Biodiversity, Land, Climate and Pollution. Global connectivity has the potential to greatly increase resource and technology efficiencies and reduce certain kinds of pollution, but it can also lead to entirely new services that require energy and increase pollution, sometimes with novel substances. Governments, the private sector, civil society and others play an important role in determining the balance between the two, including via market incentives. Whole-of-society approaches will be key to implementing the sustainable consumption and production patterns needed to realize benefits and avoid trade-offs. They will be especially important for managing rebound effects from the increased use of digital technologies. 

High-Level Plenary (continued)  

Closing Segment 

• H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly