UNITeS and the UN ICT Task Force

The UN Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Task Force is "intended to lend a truly global dimension to the multitude of efforts to bridge the global digital divide, foster digital opportunity and thus firmly put ICT at the service of development for all." Through the UNITeS Initiative, the UN Volunteers programme is taking an active role in the UN ICT Task Force, co-chairing a Committee on Human Capacity with UNESCO.

The Task Force notes on its web site that, "To achieve tangible and sustainable results, action in the area of ICT-for-development (ICT4D) must be local, cooperation should be promoted at the sub-regional and regional levels, but the broad agenda should be set globally."

The objective of the Task Force is to "provide overall leadership to the United Nations role in helping to formulate strategies for the development of information and communication technologies and putting those technologies at the service of development and, on the basis of consultations with all stakeholders and Member States, forging a strategic partnership between the United Nations system, private industry and financing trusts and foundations, donors, programme countries and other relevant stakeholders in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions."

The Task Force is the first body created by a intergovernmental decision of a United Nations in which governments, civil society, the private sector, academia and UN organizations have equal decision-making power.

"Our specific strategy is to integrate Volunteering into all aspects of ICT for Development," says Manuel Acevedo, the Program Director for UNITeS. "ICT volunteers are needed in mass to bridge the capacity dimension of the digital divide, and to bring an approach that is essential to the success of community-level activities. They are also needed to effectively mainstream ICT into development processes and programmes. We believe UNITeS participation in the ICT Task Force is a natural fit, and we are proud to be a part of it."

The Human Resource Development and Capacity Building group of the Task Force is one of its six working groups. A key priority of the Group is to harness ICT for education, with particular attention to overcoming disparities in educational and training opportunities and achievements between males and females. The group also focuses on supporting the development and application of ICT to strengthen health care systems and infrastructures to support the Secretary-General's initiative to combat HIV/AIDS and other infectious and communicable diseases. The Working Group is also committed to supporting the creation of local content in relation to both education and health to empower the poor and illiterate by making the internet and ICT relevant to their lives. Read more about the Human Resource Development and Capacity Building group.

Item 10 of the UN ICT Task Force action plan focuses on the need for participation by universities and training institutions on developmental activities leading to greater ICT capacity, with UNITeS serving as a key avenue for involvement by volunteers from such organizations.

"Our University Volunteer Network is an innovative way to channel ICT volunteers into communities that need them" says Alexandra Haglund-Petitbo, UNV Programme Specialist in the UNITeS team. "It is a growing global network, with possibilities to engage a large number of students, professors and staff from South and North alike." Read more about the UNITeS University Volunteer Network.

Visit the UN ICT Task Force web site for complete information about its activities and membership.