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Day: 1
19 March 2019
Time Session # Session Title Synopsis
09:30 to 09:45 Segment 1 Official Welcome Statements

Opening Segment

09:45 to 10:30 Segment 2 Setting the Scene and Ministerial Keynotes
Part 1: Setting the Scene
Main Presentation on Launch of ESCWA Publication on "Arab Horizon 2030: Digital Technologies for Development" and Arab Digital Development Process
 
Part 2: Brief Ministerial keynotes 
Panel Discussion
 
Concluding Remarks
11:00 to 12:00 ITU RDF 1 ITU Regional Development Forum for Arab States - Regional Implementation: 2019 and Beyond

This session will aim at discussing the regional implementation of the outcomes of WTDC-17 and PP-18 with the aim of contributing to the implementation of the WSIS and SDGs.

11:00 to 12:00 NDDR 1 Session 1 on Digital Development: issues related to National Development Planning, Governance and Infrastructure

This session will discuss the (1) Strategic frameworks at the national and regional levels with regards to WSIS and SDGs, including overreaching digital strategies and ICT sectoral strategies; (2) ICT infrastructure, including market structure and regulatory landscape, service types, ICT connectivity, Internet architecture and domain name management; (3) Governance, including public/private partnership, multi-sector partnership, role of NGOs and participation in Internet Governance activities; (4) Legal environment, including enabling and regulatory environment related to the use of digital tools; and (5) Building trust with users through confidence and security mechanisms in the use of ICTs, including privacy, data protection and network security.

12:00 to 13:00 ITU RDF 2 ITU Regional Development Forum for Arab States - Regional Partnerships for WSIS and SDGs

This session will focus on the areas where different stakeholders should collaborate regionally to promote WSIS and SDGs in the Arab region.

12:00 to 13:00 NDDR 2 Session 2 on Digital Development: issues related to Digital Economy, Empowerment, Trade and Employment

This session will explore (1) Productivity of the ICT Sector, including ICT research, development and innovation, standardization, Government facilitation and financing; (2) Economic impact of the ICT sector, including its contribution to national economy; and (3) Trade and employment in the ICT sector, e-trade, e-business and e-employment.

13:30 to 14:30 ITU RDF 3 ITU Regional Development Forum for Arab States - Implementation of the ITU Regional Initiatives for the Arab Region



This session will discuss the status of implementation of the following initiatives:
ARB1: Environment, climate change and emergency telecommunications 
ARB2: Confidence and security in the use of telecommunications/ICTs
ARB3: Digital financial inclusion 
ARB4: Internet of Things, smart cities and big data
ARB5: Innovation and entrepreneurship
13:30 to 14:30 NDDR 3 Session 3 on Digital Development: issues related to Transformation in Public Administration and Social Inclusion

This session will explore (1) Digital transformation of public administration; (2) Social inclusion through empowering access to relevant information, knowledge, applications and content, leading to meaningful access, i.e. its availability in all locations, its affordability to the general public and its adaptability to the needs of the people; (3) Capacity building on digital development, and e-training; and (4) Essential ICT applications: e-education, e-government and e-health.

13:30 to 14:30 WS 1 AHLF Thematic/Community Workshop: Understanding Artificial Intelligence and its potential for Sustainable Development @ TechNovation ESCWA

Organizers:  
United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT); Lebanese American University (LAU); and ICTPS/TDD, ESCWA

Contact person: Mr. Jorge Martinez Navarrete, UN OICT, martinez-navarrete@un.org

This workshop will explain what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is, and how it works. It will also provide a brief overview to concepts such as general and narrow Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well to practical uses of AI in the present and near future. It will highlight opportunities for applications for sustainable development. This talk will provide a practical introduction for participants with little or no computing background.

14:30 to 15:30 AMPAC 1 Arab IGF AMPAC - Updates on Preparations for Arab IGF 5 (For members)
14:30 to 15:30 ITU RDF 4 ITU Regional Development Forum for Arab States - Activities related to ITU Study Groups (ITU-D, ITU-T and ITU-R), Centres of Excellence and Academia Membership

This session will update membership on ITU SGs questions ongoing works, new selected ITU Arab CoEs Network and Academia membership.
 

Moderators: 

Mr. Karim Abdelghani, Programme Coordinator, ITU Arab Regional Office
Mr. Mustafa Al Mahdi, Programme Administrator, ITU Arab Regional Office
14:30 to 15:30 NDDR 4 Session 4 on Digital Development: issues related to Media and Cultural Diversity

This session will address (1) Cultural identity and cultural heritage; (2) Linguistic diversity and its harmonization; (3) Role of media in the Information Society, its pluralism and independence; and (4) Convergence between ICT and media and social media in the Arab World.

14:30 to 16:30 AMPAC 2 Arab IGF AMPAC - Working Groups Breakout Session (For members)
14:30 to 16:30 eGov 1 Arab Meeting of e-Gov Directors

This session will overview the 2018 results of the GEMS maturity indicator in the Arab region and overview the main activities in open government.

16:00 to 17:00 AMPAC 3 Arab IGF AMPAC - Working Groups Breakout Session (For members)
16:00 to 17:00 eGov 2 Arab Meeting of e-Gov Directors

This session includes interventions on the progress made in digital transformation at the national level, proposed areas of future collaboration, and a group discussion.

16:00 to 17:00 ITU RDF 5 ITU Regional Development Forum for Arab States – Closing Remarks
16:00 to 17:00 NDDR 5 Partners Meeting: ESCWA - DESA on Global e-Gov Survey as part of the ADDR process

During this session, partners will discuss the ongoing cooperation between UN DESA and ESCWA regarding the implementation of the UN E-Gov Survey in the Arab region.  Partners will also discuss future steps.