WSIS Implementation and followup mechanism a comprehensive overview

1
WSIS Implementation and follow-up mechanisma
comprehensive overview

• Charles Geiger
• Special Adviser to the UNCommission on Science
  and Technology for Development (Former
  Executive Director WSIS)
• Version 22.8.2007

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The Tunis Agenda differentiates between

• Implementation of the Action Lines,
  Recommendations and Commitments contained in the
  outcome documents of the Summit (Geneva and Tunis
  phase), i.e. a mechanism that should apply to
  what happens on the ground / in the field, at
  national, regional and international level and
• Follow-up, which is a mechanism to review and
  assess the progress made in the implementation of
  the action lines, recommendations and commitments
  contained in the outcome documents of the Summit.

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Summary of the presentation

• We shall first look at implementation at
  national, regional and international level and by
  the UN-System
• Then we explain the follow-up mechanism and the
  difference between formal and informal mechanisms
• We shall look at the special case of the Internet
  Governance forum
• and finally at the Global Alliance for ICT and
  Development, which was created in a parallel
  process to WSIS.
• Abbreviations used
• GD Geneva Declaration of Principles
• GP Geneva Plan of Action
• TC Tunis Commitment
• TA Tunis Agenda for the Information Society
• A number (e.g. TA 109) refers to the paragraph
  number in the respective document

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Implementation mechanisms

• Implementation at national, regional and
  international levels, and by all stakeholders is
  described in the next 5 slides. It is important
  to understand that this mechanism has no
  permanent Secretariat or any other entity
  supervising/coordinating the process. At the
  international level, the Tunis Agenda proposes
  Action Line Facilitation, which is understood
  as being an informal process.
• Implementation by the UN System. This
  sub-mechanism (described after the above
  mentioned slides) is a formal process and
  supervised by the UN Group on the Information
  Society (UNGIS), a sub-group of the Chief
  Executive Board (CEB)

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Implementation at national, regional and
international levels (1)

• National level The Tunis Agenda encourages a
  multi-stakeholder process and a national
  implementation mechanism which
• Integrates national e-strategies into national
  development plans, including Poverty Reduction
  Strategies (PRSP)
• Mainstreams use of ICT in ODA
• coordinates efforts with and among the
  development partners (use UNDAFs, whenever
  appropriate, and CCA Reports should contain a
  component on ICT4D)
• (Source TA 100)

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Implementation at national, regional and
international levels (2)

• Regional level
• The overall focus should be on the use of ICT for
  development and for reaching the MDGs
• Upon request of governments, regional
  international organizations and UN regional
  economic commissions should carry out
  WSIS-implementation activities in collaboration
  with all stakeholders (multi-stakeholder
  process)
• (Source TA 101)

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Implementation at national, regional and
international levels (3)

• International level
• Implementation should take into account the
  different Action lines defined in the Geneva Plan
  of Action and the tasks defined in the Tunis
  Agenda related to effective use of existing and
  future financial mechanisms
• UN funds, programs and agencies should act within
  approved mandates and resources
• Implementation should include intergovernmental
  and multi-stakeholder components
• The UN General Assembly should make an overall
  review of WSIS implementation in 2015
• (Source TA 102)

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Implementation at national, regional and
international levels (4)

• International implementation as a
  multi-stakeholder process Tunis Agenda proposes
  Action Line Facilitation
• In the Tunis Agenda, Governments attached great
  importance to multi-stakeholder implementation at
  the international level, which should be
  organized taking into account the themes and
  action lines in the Geneva Plan of Action, and
  moderated or facilitated by UN agencies when
  appropriate (TA 108 and 103 first part).
• The aim of each Action Lines Facilitation is to
  exchange information, create knowledge, share
  best practices and assist in the development of
  multi-stakeholder partnerships (TA 110).
• ITU, UNESCO and UNDP were asked to take the lead
  of this informal process (TA 109), where all
  interested parties can participate and where no
  accreditation is required.

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Implementation at national, regional and
international levels (5)

• As of today, the lead facilitators for the
  different Action Lines are
• ITU for Action Lines C2 Information and
  communication infrastructure and C5 Building
  confidence and security in the use of ICTs
• UNESCO for Action Lines C3 Access to information
  and knowledge, C7 sub-theme e-learning, C7
  sub-theme e-science, C8 Cultural diversity and
  identity, linguistic diversity and local content,
  C9 Media and C10 Ethical dimensions of the
  Information Society
• UNDP for C4 Capacity building and C6 Enabling
  environment
• UN-DESA for C1 The role of public governance
  authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion
  of ICTs for development, C7 sub-theme
  e-government and C11 International and regional
  cooperation
• UNCTAD for C7 sub-theme e-business
• ILO for C7 sub-theme e-employment
• WHO for C7 sub-theme e-health
• WMO for C7 sub-theme e-environment
• FAO for C7 sub-theme e-agriculture
• (Source Outcome of the Action Line Faciltators
  meeting of February 2006, confirmed by the second
  meeting of of ALFs on 25 May 2007)

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Implementation by the UN System (1)

• Governments, in the Tunis Agenda, requested the
  UN Secretary-General, in consultation with
  members of the Chief Executives Board for
  Coordination (CEB), to establish, within the CEB,
  a UN Group on the Information Society (UNGIS)
  consisting of the relevant UN bodies and
  organizations, with the mandate to facilitate the
  implementation of WSIS outcomes within the UN
  System (TA 103 second part).
• This mechanism is a sub-mechanism within the
  general WSIS implementation mechanism, targeted
  at the UN Agencies and programs only. It is a
  formal mechanism and is not a multi-stakeholder
  mechanism.

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Implementation by the UN System (2)

• Main task of UNGIS is facilitation of
  implementation of WSIS outcomes by the different
  UN Agencies. UNGIS is not a multi-stakeholder
  entity and should (normally) not deal with Action
  Line Facilitation.
• UNGIS was launched by the UN SG and met for the
  first time in July 2006, and thereafter in July
  2007.
• 22 UN funds, programs and agencies are working
  under rotating chairmanship of ITU, UNESCO and
  UNDP.
• The Group shall enable synergies aimed at
  resolving substantive and policy issues, avoiding
  redundancies and enhancing effectiveness of the
  system while raising public awareness about the
  goals and objectives of the global Information
  Society.
• Links between UNGIS and other coordination
  efforts like One UN have yet to be established
• The website of UNGIS is www.ungis.org (partly
  pass-word protected and therefore not completely
  public)

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WSIS Follow-up mechanism (1)

• In the Tunis Agenda, Governments requested that
  ECOSOC oversees the system-wide follow-up of the
  Geneva and Tunis outcomes of WSIS. To this end,
  Governments requested that ECOSOC, at its
  substantive session of 2006, should review the
  mandate, agenda and composition of the Commission
  on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD),
  including considering the strengthening of the
  Commission, taking into account the
  multi-stakeholder approach (TA 105).

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WSIS Follow-up mechanism (2)

• On 28 July 2006 ECOSOC adopted Resolution 2006/46
  entitled Follow-up to the World Summit on the
  Information Society and review of the Commission
  on Science and Technology for Development
• ECOSOC decided to carry out its responsibilities
  for overseeing the system-wide follow-up to the
  Summit outcomes in the context of its annual
  consideration of the integrated and coordinated
  implementation and follow-up to the major United
  Nations conferences.

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WSIS Follow-up mechanism (3)

• ECOSOC decided further that the Commission on
  Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)
  shall effectively assist the Council as the focal
  point in the system-wide follow-up of WSIS.
• The CSTD should be strengthened in its
  substantive capacity through the effective and
  meaningful participation of Member States in its
  work, as well as enlarged by the inclusion of 10
  new members
• While preserving the inter-governmental nature of
  the Commission, ECOSOC agreed that CSTD should
  make use of the successful multi-stakeholder
  approach that was pioneered by WSIS

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WSIS follow-up mechanism (4)

• Tasks of CSTD in relation to the WSIS follow-up
• (a) Review and assess progress at the
  international and regional levels in the
  implementation of action lines, recommendations
  and commitments contained in the outcome
  documents of the Summit including the set of
  connectivity targets of the Geneva Plan of
  Action, to be reached by 2015
• (b) Share best and effective practices and
  lessons learned and identify obstacles and
  constraints encountered, actions and initiatives
  to overcome them and important measures for
  further implementation of the Summit outcomes
• c) Promote dialogue and foster partnerships, in
  coordination with other appropriate United
  Nations funds, programs and specialized agencies,
  to contribute to the attainment of the Summit
  objectives and the implementation of its
  outcomes. 

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WSIS follow-up mechanism (5)

• WSIS follow-up by the CSTD and ECOSOC is a formal
  process. The multi-stakeholder approach is
  possible within the limits of the Rules of
  Procedure of the Functional Commissions of
  ECOSOC. (In practice, some of the former WSIS
  practice may be introduced if all members of the
  CSTD agree)
• During the next 2 sessions of the CSTD, all civil
  society entities that were accredited to WSIS may
  participate in the CSTD as observers. Afterwards,
  only civil society entities in consultative
  status with ECOSOC may continue to participate in
  the CSTD sessions (ECOSOC 2007 L.4)
• Business entities accredited to WSIS may continue
  to participate as observers in the CSTD. New
  business entities may be approved by ECOSOC for
  participation in the CSTD regarding WSIS
  follow-up (ECOSOC decision 2007 L.5)
• CSTD may organize, in future, roundtables and
  other informal meetings (like e.g. the joint
  CSTD-GAID meeting during the 10th session of the
  CSTD in May 2007) which will be open to all
  stakeholders.

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WSIS follow-up mechanism (6)

• At the 10th session of the CSTD, member states
  agreed on a draft resolution regarding flow of
  information. This resolution was approved by
  ECOSOC on 25 July 2007. Main features, inter
  alia
• United Nations organizations acting as action
  line facilitators, United Nations regional
  commissions, main theme facilitators, the GAID
  and other entities, as appropriate, should submit
  to the secretariat of the Commission their
  respective reports as inputs towards the
  elaboration of the annual report of the
  Secretary-General to the Commission, with their
  own executive summaries, in a timely manner
• The secretariat of the Commission should publish
  the submitted respective reports on its website
  in their original language as contributions to
  the next session of the Commission
• All stakeholders should establish and/or to keep
  open channels of communication with action line
  facilitators and/or United Nations regional
  commissions and report to them their
  implementation efforts, so that such efforts may
  be appropriately reflected, and the relevant
  knowledge, practices and outcomes shared for the
  benefit of all

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Explanation Advantages and disadvantages of
formal / informal mechanisms (1)

• In the UN, formal processes usually limit
  participation by other stakeholders than
  Governments to those accredited or in
  consultative status. Formal processes are
  basically intergovernmental processes and all
  other stakeholders (including the UN Agencies and
  programs) are observers (they can sometimes speak
  and make inputs, but they cannot negotiate or
  vote).
• In informal processes, all stakeholders can
  participate on an equal footing, no accreditation
  or consultative status necessary. Informal
  processes cannot take decisions (at least not
  according to UN rules). Informal processes may
  experiment with new forms of participation and
  may be prepare the ground for new forms of global
  governance (Problems legitimacy, who is really
  representative of which constituency? How to deal
  with profound disagreements? etc. )

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Explanation Advantages and disadvantages of
formal / informal mechanisms (2)

• In the WSIS follow-up through CSTD, a formal
  process, participation of civil society entities,
  from 2010 onwards, will be limited to entities in
  consultative status with ECOSOC (till 2009 all
  civil society entities that were accredited to
  WSIS can participate, and of course also all
  entities actually in consultative status with
  ECOSOC).
• Therefore, all NGOs that were accredited to WSIS
  but do not have consultative status with ECOSOC,
  and who wish to participate in the follow-up
  process in the CSTD and ECOSOC should apply
  without delay for ECOSOC status. Unfortunately,
  some categories that got WSIS-accreditation
  without problems may have problems to get ECOSOC
  consultative status, e.g. Universities and local
  authorities may not qualify, because they are not
  considered to be non-governmental organizations.

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Internet Governance Forum (1)

• As an outcome of the chapter on Internet
  Governance, Governments, in the Tunis Agenda,
  asked the UN Secretary-General, in an open and
  inclusive process, to convene, by the second
  quarter of 2006, a meeting of a new forum for
  multi-stakeholder policy dialoguecalled the
  Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The mandate of
  the Forum is, inter alia, to
• Discuss public policy issues related to key
  elements of Internet governance in order to
  foster the sustainability, robustness, security,
  stability and development of the Internet.
• Facilitate discourse between bodies dealing with
  different cross-cutting international public
  policies regarding the Internet and discuss
  issues that do not fall within the scope of any
  existing body.

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Internet Governance Forum (2)

• Mandate, inter alia, continued
• Interface with appropriate intergovernmental
  organizations and other institutions on matters
  under their purview.
• Facilitate the exchange of information and best
  practices, and in this regard make full use of
  the expertise of the academic, scientific and
  technical communities.
• Identify emerging issues, bring them to the
  attention of the relevant bodies and the general
  public, and, where appropriate, make
  recommendations.
• (Source TA 72)

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Internet Governance Forum (3)

• The IGF may be considered as a special and
  informal multi-stakeholder platform/mechanism to
  continue the discussions regarding Internet
  Governance beyond Tunis. Its meetings are open to
  all interested parties, and no accreditation or
  consultative status is required (this is the main
  difference with its predecessor, the WGIG, where
  the members were elected by the UN SG).
• A successful Inaugural meeting took place in
  Athens from 30 October to 2 November 2006.
• The Athens meeting discussed four major themes
  openness, diversity, access, security, with the
  crosscutting objective of development and
  capacity building.
• High level of attendance more than 1600
  participants representing all stakeholder groups,
  including ministers, CEO, professors, Internet
  professionals and users, made the Athens meeting
  a success.
• The next meeting will take place in November 2007
  in Rio de Janeiro.

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Enhanced cooperation

• Governments, in the Tunis Agenda, recognized the
  need for enhanced cooperation in the future, to
  enable governments, on an equal footing, to carry
  out their roles and responsibilities, in
  international public policy issues pertaining to
  the Internet, but not in the day-to-day technical
  and operational matters, that do not impact on
  international public policy issues (TA 69-71).
• This process has still to be conceptualized.
• It could take place in different organizations
  (or even outside existing organizations?).

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Cluster of WSIS-related events (1)

• In May 2006 a cluster of WSIS-related events
  took place in Geneva, around the World
  Information Society Day (17 May) and the 9th
  session of the CSTD, consisting mainly of Action
  Line Facilitation meetings. These meetings were
  open to all stakeholders and no accreditation was
  required.
• In May 2007, a similar cluster of events was
  organized by the different Agencies involved in
  Action Line Facilitation, as well as by the
  CSTD-Secretariat, around the World Information
  Society Day and the 10th session of the CSTD.

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Cluster of WSIS-related events (2)

• In future, a cluster of WSIS-related events will
  be organized in May each year in Geneva by the
  Agencies concerned, consisting of a) Action
  Line Facilitation meetings organized by the
  different UN-Agencies and b) parallel events to
  the CSTD, organized by the different stakeholders
  under their responsibility. The CSTD-Secretariat
  will inform about the procedures regarding room
  reservation etc. in due time before the next CSTD
  session. An annual Action Line Facilitators
  meeting will also take place in May each year, as
  well as the annual UNGIS meeting (the latter is a
  closed meeting).

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Parallel processes related to WSIS The Global
Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID)

• In April 2006 the launch of a Global Alliance for
  ICT and Development (GAID) was approved by the UN
  SG.
• The mission of GAID is to facilitate and promote
  the use of ICT in attainment of the
  internationally agreed development goals by
  providing a platform for an open, inclusive,
  multi-stakeholder cross-sectoral policy dialogue
  on the role of information and communication
  technology in development.  It will thus
  contribute to linking the outcomes of WSIS with
  the broader United Nations development agenda.
• The Global Alliance is a multi-stakeholder
  initiative. It is an informal mechanism, even if
  close links remain with the United Nations. To
  some extent, it can be considered as a
  continuation of the ICT Task Force, but GAID does
  not have elected members. GAID is open to all
  interested parties, like the IGF. No
  accreditation or consultative status is
  necessary. It is steered by a Steering Committee
  and a Strategy Council.
• More information is at www.un-gaid.org

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Approaches of the Global Alliance (GAID)

• In July 2006 the participants in the GAID Kuala
  Lumpur Inaugural Meeting agreed on a number of
  approaches and decided that the focus should be
  on the following key priority areas that are
  considered most relevant
• Education
• Health
• Entrepreneurship
• Participation in policy debate and decision
  making (governance).
• GAID Strategy Council meet on 27-28 February 2007
  in Santa Clara, California, USA (second meeting)
• GAID organized a number of events at UN NY and
  also during the 10th Session of the CSTD at the
  Palais des Nations in Geneva. Next event is a
  youth event in September 2007 at the CICG in
  Geneva.

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Thank you for your attention

• charles.geiger_at_unctad.org