Page 40 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Cisco and ITU Launch Digital Transformation Initiative

ITU, in partnership with Cisco, launched businesses and it assists policy-makers as in entrepreneurial areas where project-
the Digital Transformation Centers in the formulation and implementation based learning and design thinking
Initiative to equip people with the skills of policies and programmes related to are critical,” says Laura Quintana, Vice
needed to effectively participate in today’s digital skills, with the overall objective President and General Manager of Cisco
digital society and economy. Through of enabling a successful national digital Networking Academy. “Cisco’s objective
this initiative, launched at ITU Telecom transformation process. The initiative will is to help countries transform digitally
World, ITU and Cisco will work with a rely on a multistakeholder partnership for and accelerate economic growth, and the
network of institutions to run digital skills its success. “We are proud to partner with collaboration between Cisco and ITU will
training programmes in specific tech Cisco to enhance digital literacy,” says be key to providing the needed human
areas. Providing digital skills training is ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “We capital to support that transformation.”
key to bridging the digital divide. Digital call on governments, the private sector, To kick-start the initiative, ITU and Cisco
skills are needed at all levels: at the basic development agencies, local communities will identify 10 Digital Transformation
level, to help people connect and benefit and other stakeholders to help us advance Centers to participate in the first phase,
from Internet services and applications; this initiative. Join us to boost digital skills which will run for 18 months starting in
at the intermediate level, to help students to facilitate the digital transformation January 2020. The Centers selected will
and job seekers get the necessary skills journey and accelerate the achievement be located in the Americas, Africa and
required by the digital economy; and at of the United Nations Sustainable Asia-Pacific regions. “Today half the world
the advanced level to increase the pool Development Goals.” The Digital is online, but raw connectivity alone will
of ICT experts and meet the demands Transformation Centers Initiative builds on not solve development challenges,” says
of the industry. This initiative targets the existing collaboration between the two Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the
people who need basic digital skills to use organizations. “We are excited to partner ITU Telecommunication Development
digital tools and access e-services and with ITU on the Digital Transformation Bureau. “Research shows that lack of
those who seek to enhance their basic Center Initiative which will leverage the digital knowledge and skills has emerged
and intermediate skills. It also targets Cisco Networking Academy to prepare as a major barrier to Internet uptake, digital
entrepreneurs who wish to develop their individuals with skills in technology as well inclusion and digital transformation,
especially in developing countries.
The Digital Transformation Centers
Initiative is designed to strengthen the
effectiveness of current activities in the
field of capacity development by providing
training programmes to meet and address
local needs, and address technology
trends, developments and gaps. It is also
a step forward to help our membership
implement their regional initiatives in
this field.” The Digital Transformation
Centers Initiative will complement the
ILO-ITU Digital Skills for Jobs Campaign,
which is part of the Global Initiative on
Decent Jobs for Youth, and will directly
contribute to the achievement of the 2030
Sustainable Development Agenda. It will
also complement the existing work of the
ITU Centers of Excellence network, which
provides training to ICT professionals as
well as the existing ITU efforts in enabling
digital transformation and national and
regional levels.

40 SEPTEMBER 2019