UN-ESCWA www.escwa.un.org

ICT for Change

* UN-ESCWA (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) works towards sustainable development and economic and social cooperation in the region, and better economic relations between 14 member countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, UAE and Yemen. ESCWA programme focuses on regional priority areas and issues, and operates through Divisions and Units:

Zahr BOU-GHANEMICT Policies, ICT Division, ESCWA

Social Developmen

t

Emerging & Conflict

Related Issues

Sustainable Development & Productivity

Economic Development

& GlobalizationStatistics

ESCWA Centre for Women

Information & Communications Technology

Program Planning

&Technical Cooperation

Bridge the Digital DivideThe ICT Division of ESCWA* aims to reduce the digital divide and develop an all-people inclusive and development oriented information society and knowledge-based economy in the ESCWA region. Work is according to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society and the international development goals.

Towards the Knowledge SocietyWork is guided by to the regional transformation towards a knowledge-based society that is competitive at the global level, and has more employment opportunities, less poverty and better quality of life through the use of ICTs and their applications.

ActivitiesTasks include studies, meetings and field projects, together with advisory services. Efforts try to enhance capabilities in using ICTs for development through support on the development of ICT policies, infrastructure, and applications, and raising awareness on the potentials of ICTs in promoting sustainable development and enabling the region's integration into the global economy. Approach seeks partnerships and collaboration with stakeholders on ICT for development and the establishment of a sustainable ICT sector in the ESCWA region.

NOW Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders in the ESCWA Region Internet Governance: Establishment of Arabic Domain Names System, Arab Top Level Domain ".arab" and its equivalent in Arabic Cyber LegislationoRegional Harmonization of Cyber Legislation to Promote the Knowledge Society in the Arab World ESCWA Technology CentreoOfficially established in 2011 in Jordan, with a Board of Governors from 10 member countries PublicationsoRegional Profile of the Information Society in Western AsiaoPromoting the ICT sector to Meet the Challenges of the Knowledge EconomyoInformation Society Measurement: Building a Common Benchmarking Model for the ESCWA Region

NEXT Meeting of the ESCWA Consultative Committee on Scientific and Technological Development and Technological Innovation Internet Governance:oEstablishment of the Arab IG Forum ESCWA Technology Centre, studies underwayoCustomize an Innovation Intellectual Property Creative System oEconomic Model for Technology Deployment in the Various Productive SectorsoFinancing Technology Transfer and Innovation Advice roadmap and support guide PublicationsoRegional Competitiveness of the ICT Sector in the ESCWA member countriesoImpact of Selected e-Services on Socioeconomic Development

Growth of the ESCWA region in ICTs, 2005-2010

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

Mobile phone subscriptions

(337% growth)

Fixed-line subscriptions (7% growth)

Internet users (238% growth)

Fixed broadband Internet subscriptions

(737% growth)Millions

2005 2010Source: E/ESCWA/ICTD/2011/4