A Developing Connection: Bridging the Policy Gap between the Information Society and Sustainable Development In "A Developing Connection," seven young researchers from six countries look at the emerging relationship between sustainable development (SD) and the information society (IS). The book is a result of the "Information Society and Sustainable Development: Next Generation Policy Directions" project, based on a 2003 scoping study with support from Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The study assessed the potential for engaging researchers under 30 to link IS and SD policy-makers, and to catalyze relevant changes in policy and practice in developing countries. The project "created the space for research," which many young researchers lack. These individuals strengthened their capacities for research, writing, and policy engagement through practice. The young authors also prepared national workshops and gave presentations at international meetings, gaining experience in engaging a variety of audiences, including other researchers, policy-makers and practitioners in the fields of IS and SD. The book was launched at the World Summit on the Information Society, November 16-18, 2005, Tunis, Tunisia. Individual Papers Introduction (196 kb) Towards a Sustainable Development View of Local Content using ICTs in South Africa: A Key Priority in the National Information Society Strategy (254 kb) Steve Vosloo Using ICTs for Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection in Kenya: The "M-vironment" Approach (353 kb) Wainaina Mungai Women as Professionals in the Costa Rican Information Technology Sector: Exploring the Relationship Between Sustainable Development and Gender Gaps in the Information Society (281 kb) Margarita Salas Capturing Grassroots Voices in the Information Society and Sustainable Development: The Policy Dialogue in India (231 kb) Anusha Lall and Atanu Garai Socializing Knowledge and Reducing Regional Inequalities: Strategies for Brazil (190 kb) Diogo André de Assumpção Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Egypt: Supporting Natural Resource Management and Local Development (209 kb) Amira Sobeih

Commentary on WSIS Phase 2:

• Did WSIS Miss the Point? An information society vision disconnected from sustainable development
  By Maja Andjelkovic, December 2005
  The second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society was held in Tunis in November, with virtually no mention of sustainable develop­ment. Negotiations between the first phase in 2003 and this phase of the Summit centred on three main subjects: Internet governance; financing strategies; and implementation mechanisms for the Geneva Action Plan. While there were some "positives" resulting from the summit, writes IISD Associate Maja Andjelkovic, "the lack of focus on sustain­able development in the WSIS process is worrisome: without some clear, broader societal goals in mind, the information society may turn out to be unsustainable.

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) provides a unique opportunity for all key stakeholders to develop a common vision and understanding, and to address the whole range of relevant issues related to the information society. The Summit has been endorsed by the UN General Assembly under the high patronage of Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, with the International Telecommunication Union taking the lead role in its preparation. The Summit will be held in two phases: Geneva (December 10-12, 2003) and Tunisia (November 16-18, 2005).

IISD has been an active participant in the WSIS process since the first preparatory committee meeting in July 2002. Our objectives in this process have been to raise the profile of three key issues:

1. the need for sustainable development to act as a guiding vision for the information society;

2. recognizing the important role of young people as leaders in using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to achieve more sustainable development in their communities and around the world; and

3. sharing our knowledge about the management of knowledge networks and partnerships, which will be essential to implement the WSIS Action Plan.

Specific engagement around these themes in 2002-2003, included:

• undertaking a scoping study on national policy linkages between the information society and sustainable development;

• serving as one of the founding members of the Youth Creating Digital Opportunities (YCDO) Coalition, which has backstopped international youth engagement in WSIS and will serve as a key implementation mechanism for the WSIS commitments to youth;

• facilitating the input of Canadian youth to the national WSIS policy process; and

• championing the input of young women in the WSIS process, including assisting with planning for a regional meeting of young women in ICT4D in Egypt as well as coordinating a global e-consultation with young women.

At the Geneva Summit, IISD was involved in workshops and panel presentations on all of these subject areas. See our WSIS Geneva calendar for details on these sessions and the IISD delegation.

Although the WSIS negotiating process was a challenging one, IISD believes that the multi-stakeholder partnerships formed and the broad information society awareness-raising campaigns undertaken around the world will yield positive results. We are pleased to see the strong inclusion of sustainable development, youth and multi-stakeholder partnerships in the WSIS Declaration and look forward to working with others in implementing the Action Plan.

Press Releases

• Young Canadians Power-Up Information Society Summit: Canadian Youth are at Hub of the World Summit on the Information Society - December 8, 2003