Page 93 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

ITU Drives Skills Debate to Help Ensure That Existing Inequalities Are Not

Exacerbated, And Everyone Can Profit Fully From the Benefits of Digital
Transformation

Development Goals has been brought into sharp perspective during the
COVID-19 crisis", said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General. "The expert
contributions in 'Digital Skills Insights' are helping to ensure that digital
skill gaps do not exacerbate existing inequalities." According to ITU data,
in 2019, 46 per cent of the world population was not using the Internet. [i]
This number increases to almost 80 per cent in least developed countries.
A large majority of the global population (93 per cent) lives in an area
covered by at least a 3G mobile signal/service, [ii] however, the lack of
skills is a barrier for many to use the Internet's full potential. [iii] Doreen
Bogdan-Martin, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development
Bureau (BDT) said: "In the wake of COVID–19, the importance of digital
skills has never been so evident, nor so urgent. Those lucky enough to
enjoy fast connectivity took refuge from the global health emergency by
moving to a virtual environment for economic continuity, education, and
interpersonal contact. However, those lacking access to digital networks
and skills were left even further behind. I hope this publication stimulates
important discussions on the best strategies to rapidly strengthen the
capacities and skills required to profit fully from the benefits of digital
transformation."

How to address digital skills gaps
"Digital Skills Insights" provides concrete suggestions and
recommendations on how some of these challenges can be addressed
to better understand and bridge the digital divide, such as:
• Governments, businesses, educational systems and society need to
work together to support a dynamic workforce and constantly redefine
the skills demanded by future jobs.
• Further training and retraining will be necessary since employees
will have to engage in lifelong learning if they are to be capable of
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has responding to changes in skills requirements triggered by automation
released the 2020 edition of "Digital Skills Insights", and digitization.
a collection of articles by international experts on the • Data literacy among citizens should be tackled by policy makers and
impact of digital transformation on capacity and skills practitioners through targeted data literacy programmes to enhance
development. In eight articles, the publication reviews the citizens' abilities to participate in the digital society.
interrelationship between digital connectivity and digital • In sub-Saharan Africa, building human capital, specifically in digital
skills, as well as the correlation with education, gender, skills, is critical for the region to leverage the benefits of the digital
digital divides and the transformative aspects within economy.
the labor market. None of these should be addressed • Female participation in digital skills capacity development programmes
in isolation but be part of a holistic approach to ensure can be increased by including more women in the programme design,
countries' successful transition to a digital economy. reaching out to parents and community leaders in the recruitment of
"Digital Skills Insights" 2020 provides a body of knowledge participants, and engaging female career role models.
that will facilitate academic research and innovation; • Bridging the digital gender gap relies on gender-responsive ICT policy
inform policy debates and decisions among policy-makers and therefore the digital capabilities of policy-makers need to be
and regulators; and help the private sector to anticipate strengthened for them to better understand the barriers to Internet
and plan for human capital requirements and skills. "The access women face, and to equip them with the tools to promote more
vital importance of digital skills to achieve the Sustainable gender-inclusive public policy.

93 SEP-OCT 2020