2025 Global Forum on AI and Digital Transformation in the Public Sector
It will address the critical need for capacity building among the public sector to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital technologies, and robust data governance frameworks effectively for sustainable, inclusive, and human rights-based governance, by bringing together senior policymakers, industry leaders, academia, and civil society.
Background
As we move towards the WSIS+20 review, which emerged with the goal of building “a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society,” calls to reinforce the potential of digital technologies to foster economic growth, improve accessibility and bridge digital divides through increased global digital cooperation, policy development and capacity building have intensified. As many stakeholders, including the United Nations Secretary-General, have re-iterated, the key to enabling this transformation lies within public administrations and their power to develop regulations, legislations, and accompanying mechanisms.
It is evident that digital transformation in the public sector is essential for modernizing public service delivery, enhancing transparency, fostering citizen participation, and ensuring secure data-driven decision-making.
Capturing the full potential of government digitization could free over USD USD 3.5 trillion annually in economic value worldwide, through improved cost and operational performance. Even as greater investment is being made in infrastructure, almost half of the world’s countries do not have a strategy to improve digital skills, which impedes efficient digital transformation and calls for further investment.
Beyond the digital competencies needed among civil servants, there is also a need to strengthen the capacities of these actors to create an enabling environment for digital transformation, notably through the development of digital and data governance policy frameworks that respect, protect and promote human rights, while ensuring data privacy and security.
Objectives
In order to address these gaps and respond to the new and comprehensive challenges of the digital era, organized over two days, the UNESCO Global Forum will aim to:
- Empower Public Administrations to Drive Digital Transformation: Propose a Plan of Action on Public Sector Capacity Building for AI and Digital Transformation and launch the Dynamic Coalition on Digital Capacity Building
- Promote Inclusive and Equitable Data Governance: Convene stakeholder consultations on the Data Governance Toolkit - A Roadmap for Navigating the Digital Age an foster international collaboration to advance responsible and interoperable approaches
- Promote Global Digital Cooperation: Advance global frameworks and processes, including the Global Digital Compact and provide input to the WSIS+20 review towards a reinvigorated WSIS 2.0 vision
- Foster Knowledge Exchanges and Partnerships: Launch the Digital Transformation Repository and Learning Hub and share best practices, promote mutual learning and collaboration among stakeholders
Draft Agenda - Day 1
08.30 - 09.00 Registration & Ministerial Breakfast
09.00 - 09.15 Opening of the High-Level Ministerial Segment
09.15 - 09.45 Keynote Address
09.45 - 10.45 High-Level Opening Plenary: What Futures for the Public Sector in the Digital Age?
10.45 - 11.00 BREAK
11.00 - 12.00 Plenary Session 2: What Works for Delivering People-Centered Services?
12.00 - 13.00 Plenary Session 3: What Strategies for Digital Capacity-Building in the Public Sector?
13.00 - 14.30 NETWORKING LUNCH
14.30 - 15.25 Plenary Session 4: Demystifying Data Governance: How do We Govern Data in the Age of AI?
15.25 - 16.20 Plenary Session 5: Into an AI Future - What is the Impact of AI in the Public Sector?
16.20 - 17.15 Plenary Session 6: What role for the UN for Digital Capacity Building in the Public Sector?
17.15 - 17.30 CLOSING OF DAY 1
18.00 - 19.30 RECEPTION
Draft Agenda - Day 2
08.30 - 09.00 Registration & Coffee
09.00 - 09.40 Opening of Day 2 and Keynote Address
09.40 - 10.10 Fireside Chat 1: What is the Environmental Impact of AI?
10.10 - 10.40 Fireside Chat 2: How Can the Judiciary Govern AI?
10.40 - 10.55 BREAK
10.55 - 11.25 Partner Events
11.25 - 12.00 Innovation Showcase: Introducing AI Tools for the Public Sector, Media and the Judiciary
12.00 - 12.30 Partner Events
12.30 - 13.00 Partner Events
13.00 - 14.30 LUNCH BREAK
14.30 - 15.00 Partner Events
15.00 - 15.15 Lightning Talks
15.15 - 15.45 Fireside Chat 3: Governing Digital Platforms - The Role of Regulators
15.45 - 16.00 Lightning Talks
16.00 - 16.30 Fireside Chat 4: UN SDG Fund - Digitalization for a Sustainable Future
16.30 - 17.30 CLOSING PLENARY
