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At its eleventh session, held from 26 to 30 May 2008 in Geneva, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development considered two priority themes:
- Development-oriented policies for a socio-economic inclusive information society, including access, infrastructure and an enabling environment; and
- Science, technology and engineering for innovation and capacity-building in education and research.
A special segment was devoted to the science, technology and innovation policy (STIP) review of Angola. The Commission also undertook the second annual review of progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the two-phase World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The Commission recommended one draft resolution and three draft decisions to the Economic and Social Council for its consideration.
The draft resolution, entitled "Assessment of the progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society", notes that while in general the digital divide may be shrinking, a new form of digital divide is emerging in terms of difference in quality and speed of access to information and communications technologies. It further notes that the disparity in cost and quality of access between developed and developing countries continues and that in developed, high-income economies, the average cost of a broadband connection is significantly less than in developing countries, both in nominal terms and as a percentage of the average monthly income. It notes that the gender divide still persists in quality and variety of means of access to the Internet and information and communications technologies in both developed and developing countries. It also notes that in many countries there is inadequate coherence and complementarity between national information and communication technology policies and national development and poverty reduction strategies.
The resolution calls for increased efforts for funding of and investment in information and communications technologies, in order to advance broadband access, including wireless access. It recommends the mainstreaming of information and communications technology policies into national development or poverty reduction strategies, with a strong emphasis on gender equality. The resolution calls upon all stakeholders to increase their efforts to reduce the disparity in cost of access, through, for example, the establishment of Internet exchange points and the creation of a competitive environment, both at the backbone network and local levels. It also calls upon international and regional organizations to assess and report on a regular basis on the universal accessibility of nations to information and communications technologies.
The resolution notes the lack of indicators to measure progress towards achieving the targets set out in the Plan of Action adopted by the World Summit on the Information Society at its first phase, and also notes that the architecture for the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, as defined in the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, is rather complex and has also presented limitations in involving participation of all stakeholders, in particular those from developing countries. It underscores the importance of developing benchmarks and indicators, including impact indicators, in the context of the Partnership on Measuring Information and Communication Technologies for Development. It encourages United Nations entities that act as action line facilitators to work with all stakeholders to establish milestones, deadlines and calendars for their action lines.
The resolution further encourages WSIS action line facilitators to report not only on progress made, but also on obstacles and difficulties encountered by all stakeholders in regard to the commitments and recommendations pertaining to their respective action line at the regional and international levels. It also invites the international community to make voluntary contributions to the special trust fund established by UNCTAD to support the review and assessment work of the Commission regarding WSIS follow-up.
A draft decision was adopted with respect to the Commission´s traditional mandate on science, technology and innovation. The decision would encourage the Commission to continue examining the priority themes of the current biennium, including "Science, technology and engineering for innovation and capacity-building in education and research", and to report on the relevant findings and recommendations at the twelfth session of the Commission, to be held in May 2009.
In recognition of the value of multi-stakeholder participation in the work of the Commission, two draft decisions were submitted to the Economic and Social Council, on:
- Participation of non-governmental organizations and civil society entities in the work of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development at its twelfth and thirteenth sessions; and
- Participation of academic entities in the work of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development.
These decisions would ensure the participation of non-governmental organizations and civil society entities, including academic ones, in the future work of the Commission.
Draft resolution and decisions recommended by the CSTD to ECOSOC for adoption:
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