Background
The rapid adoption of digital technologies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the socio-economic fabric of the Asia-Pacific region. One of the most profound changes has been the accelerated shift toward a digital society, marked by increased online work, education, and socializing. This systemic change has underscored the crucial importance of digital connectivity and transformation while exposing and intensifying long-standing inequalities.
To address these changing environments and new demands, in May 2023 ESCAP members and associate members adopted the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (APIS) Action Plan 2022-2026 through ESCAP resolution 79/10.[1] The APIS Action Plan comprises 25 actions, grouped under three key pillars: digital connectivity, digital technologies and applications, and digital data.
Under a similar initiative, UN DESA conceived the project entitled “Developing institutional capacities for digital data management and cooperation to advance progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals”, supported by the UN Peace and Development Fund. Utilizing the research framework established by UN DESA, this project seeks to address existing challenges and gaps in digital data management and cooperation, focusing on enhancing the institutional capacities of countries to utilize, manage and govern data in a comprehensive, objective and evidence-based manner, through regional and global cooperation.
In this context, the ESCAP-UN DESA Capacity-Building Workshop on Digital Data Governance, which follows a series of regional workshops organised by UN DESA under its Data Governance project umbrella, will provide a valuable opportunity for Asia-Pacific senior government officials to learn from experts, exchange best practices with other countries across the region and beyond through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, and strengthen their understanding of digital government and data governance to ensure better policy making at the national level.
This workshop responds to the need for capacity building on digital transformation, including digital data in this new AI age, emphasised in the Outcome Report[2] adopted by the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (APIS) Steering Committee at its Eighth Session (APIS SC-8) in September 2024.
Moreover, this event will also offer APIS Bureau Members an opportunity to informally review progress on implementing the APIS Action Plan 2022–2026, discuss APIS Working Group activities for 2025, and initiate discussions on drafting the next APIS Action Plan for 2027–2030.
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[1] ESCAP Resolution 79/10:” Promoting digital cooperation and inclusion through the Action Plan for Implementing the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Initiative, 2022–2026.” Available at: ESCAP_RES_79_10_E
[2] Outcome Report APIS SC-8_Final.pdf
Contact Persons:
<ESCAP>
Avilia Zavarella (Ms.)
UN DESA Fellow
ICT and Development Section (IDS)
ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD)
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
E-mail: escap-ids@un.org with cc to avilia.zavarella@un.org.
<UN DESA>
Junho Lee (Mr.)
Associate Expert
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG)
E-mail: junho.lee@un.org
