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Harnessing power of information technology
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Introduction The creative use of Information Technology for development remains one of the key challenges in the digital age. While development assistance has always been provided with sustainability in mind, all too often technology has lagged behind in this effort. The goal to realistically and practically transfer technology from north to south remains elusive. The Johannesburg Summit offers a useful opportunity for reflection and hopefully will generate some innovative thinking on the use of technology for achieving sustainability. The Case for Partnerships The PrepComs leading up to the summit have included some healthy debates on a wide range of economic, social and environmental issues, with the underlying agenda of poverty alleviation and the need for global consensus and action. The reaffirmation in Bali to encourage business and industry to showcase sustainable development partnerships is a golden opportunity for the private sector to do concrete projects on the ground to bridge the north-south divide. The commitment of the scientific and technological communities to improve collaboration between scientists and policymakers provides real impetus for progress. While aid is an essential component for helping the 2 billion plus men, women and children who live below $2 per day, there is growing consensus that sustainability depends in large part on trade, investment, and transfer of technology. The multi-stakeholder dialogue for World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) underscored also the importance of good governance and accountability, protection of human rights, democratic participation, especially for women in the decision-making and capacity-building process. The Secretary General of the Summit, Mr. Nitin Desai, expects the summit to focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by 147 Heads of State and Government, and 189 Member States in total in the Millennium Declaration. Key expected outcomes of WSSD will be political declaration from heads of state, a plan of implementation that builds on the achievements made since Rio and commits governments to undertake concrete measures and actions ("Type I"), and finally "Type II" partnerships and initiatives, involving business and other sectors of society, translating the "Type I" commitments into specific actions. It is clear that these two types of outcomes of the WSSD are closely interrelated, and that one cannot go without the other. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 - 2 - Moreover, the PrepComs have generated considerable interest from business and industry in developing practical applications in developing countries, in particular in least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island developing States as well as in countries with economies in transition, and have enabled some of their concerns to be placed in the world trade agenda. These understandings are obvious and basic building blocks for partnerships and initiatives for implementing Agenda 21, and are likely to be engines of growth in developing countries. The Case for Government-led Business Coalitions The international community must build on the successes of Monterey and ensure that they flow into Johannesburg. The commitment by the United States and the European Union to increase ODA offers much hope towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Developing countries need to respond to this gesture through improved governance and by creating an enabling environment for effective management of the aid process with a view to transparency and accountability. They can also take steps to facilitate trade and investment and encourage new business incubation. The heightened interest in Type II initiatives provides an ideal opportunity for governments, civil society, including academia, NGOs and the private sector to form broad coalitions for implementing the MDGs. Trade and industry associations and new and emerging alliances of companies with like-minded agendas can be tapped from an investment perspective to showcase the voluntary partnerships proposed for WSSD. The national and international chambers of commerce, regional business groups, such as the Corporate Council for Africa, can be rich sources of expertise and experience for working together. The renewed commitment for Africa through the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) is another entry-point for Type II and beyond, which recently summed very clearly by President Thabo Mbeki in his comments on "Africa's New Realism": The momentum for sustained development, in partnership with the private sector, is based on a recognition that it is possible to revive poor nations, particularly in Africa through investments for mutual benefit. Thus, governments should foster opportunities to promote coalitions for investment projects. A group that could be actively engaged in this effort is the foundation community. After all, they need a product to support and do not simply wish to be seen as a funding stream, but as an active partner looking towards social return on capital. Organisations like the Council on Foundations and the European Foundation Centre are keen to collaborate and support international initiatives, and could serve as nerve centres for this effort by thinking globally and acting locally. They could thus help in creating a new culture of philanthropy at the national level for achieving Millennium Goals. In addition, as was cited in an article by Professors CK Prahalad and Stuart Hart in the journal Strategy + Business earlier this year, multinational companies investing in developing countries are challenged to marry local capabilities and market knowledge -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 3 - 3 - with global best practices. ICT can play a critical role in facilitating this. When we then talk of partnerships for sustainable development, it is so important that large companies include SMEs in their partnerships. By doing this, they will improve their ability to deliver appropriate services locally, whilst at the same time supporting local business development. Partnerships that join not only large companies with NGOs and local authorities, but also local small business help bring about greater transfer of skills and know-how. Improved access to and use of ICT is needed to forge such win-win partnerships worldwide. The UN system has been showing the way in developing multistakeholders partnerships, also involving the private sector. To quote Secretary-General Kofi Annan: "Creating wealth - which is business's expertise, and promoting human security in the broadest sense - the UN's main concern, are mutually reinforcing goals". ICT as a key driver "ICT should be seen as an integral component of sustainable development strategies, not merely as a valuable industry in its own right" Industry as a partner for sustainable development. Information and Communications Technology (GeSI)1.The WSSD model for partnerships has laid out some key areas where Type II initiatives could serve as models for collaboration. The UN Secretary-General's call to focus on WEHAB Water and sanitation, Energy, Health, Agriculture and Biodiversity to develop an ambitious yet achievable programme of practical steps is a rallying cry to all of us.
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