LocationsSDG Digital: Solutions and commitments for everyone, everywhere
September 24, 2024
Bianca Faith Johnson, (second from left) President of Push to Walk, takes the stage at SDG Digital 2024 using a self-balancing exo-skeleton developed by Wandercraft.
Government ministers, youth activists, tech leaders, policy experts and global changemakers came together at UN Headquarters on 20-21 September to share insights and perspectives on digital technologies as a key factor shaping humanity’s future.
SDG Digital 2024, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNDP, formed a key part of the Summit of the Future (SoF) Action Days preceding the UN Summit of the Future.
SDG Digital, initiated last year, is a cornerstone of ongoing efforts to leverage digital innovation to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With only 17 percent of SDG targets on track, there is an urgent need for scalable solutions, increased investments, and strong public-private partnerships. Digital technologies can accelerate development, and in some cases help countries facing difficult socio-economic challenges leapfrog ahead.
Several key takeaways and commitments emerged from SDG Digital 2024.
People from 148 countries shared their vision of an inclusive digital future
ITU and UNDP, with the support of UN Volunteers, launched a global campaign to capture the essence of what a digital future means.
Through social media and an online survey, we sought to engage people in the conversation. The goal is to bring the voices of the world into the discussions happening at the UN, and to highlight the crucial role of digital technologies.
Respondents from 148 countries shared their thoughts, answering one simple, but profound question: “What is your vision of a digital future for all”?
Every region contributed to the discussion, reinforcing the wish to create a future that responsibly harnesses digital technologies. Yet distinct regional priorities emerged. In Africa and Asia-Pacific, people envisaged a sustainable future for all, while in the commonwealth and independent states, respondents highlighted the need for meaningful connectivity.
Empowering youth is critical to drive sustainable digital development.
Generation17 Leader Yurii Romashko, (centre) UNDP India Youth Champion Sanjana Sanghi (left) and ITU Secretary-General's Youth Advisory Board Member Daniella Darlington (right) share their vision of an inclusive and meaningful digital future.
Kicking off on 20 September, the first SoF Action Day centred on youth-led and inclusive digital futures.
As digital and AI technologies rapidly advance, young people will have to navigate increasingly complex challenges, be it online safety, security and privacy, digital literacy, or the mental health consequences of social media.
Despite these hurdles, young people are using their creativity and technology to drive meaningful social change.
In the session “YouthLead: Shaping an Inclusive Digital Future for All”, young leaders advocated for actions and policies that promote equitable access to digital resources.
Melissa Munoz Suro, a member of the International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General's Youth Advisory Board, shared her experience: “We launched initiatives like Semillero Digital, where we are turning 100 young people who were neither studying nor working into skilled developers, ready to shape the future of AI in the Dominican Republic.”
The discussion also revealed a paradox in policymaking. Youth are often excluded from governance roles related to AI safety, despite the direct impact on their futures. Still, there are efforts underway to empower young leaders. Orman Bangura, Minister of Youth, Sierra Leone, shared how his youth-filled cabinet is working to bridge the digital divide.
Digital technologies can accelerate humanity’s progress towards a greener, more sustainable and more inclusive future.
Kelly T. Clements, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, showcases the UN Financial Gateway platform.
A broader coalition of stakeholders gathered around “A Digital Future for All” on the second SoF Action Day on 21 September. There was a clear consensus on two points:
- Digital technologies are critical to accelerate the SDGs, particularly for developing countries.
- Global digital development must be universal, affordable, inclusive, meaningful, sustainable and prosperous to ensure a more sustainable future for all.
The “Hope of Digital” segment featured 17 innovative solutions exemplifying how digital technologies are transforming lives and livelihoods.
Among the highlights:
- The UN Financial Gateway, a platform developed by UNHCR, facilitates financial transactions for refugees and could enable potential efficiency gains of up to US$60 million per year.
- WIPO’s Technology and Innovation Support Centers help local entrepreneurs obtain patent protection and assist them with searching over 100 million patent applications from around the world.
- The Digital Cooperation Organization’s new Digital Economy Navigator, enables countries to better navigate the paths to digital economy maturity.
Strengthening global digital cooperation and investments in digital public infrastructure can ensure sustainability and prosperity for all.
SDG Digital also emphasized the need for global cooperation and investments to promote sustainability and shared prosperity. A key focus has been around digital public infrastructure (DPI).
DPI is the backbone of modern digital interactions, encompassing digital identity platforms, payment gateways and data exchange systems.
Countries are designing safe and inclusive DPI, ensuring the rights of people are respected and preserved. In Malawi, 97 percent of residents have a legal digital ID. It has saved $43 million in annual payments to ‘ghost’ beneficiaries.
In Finland the X-Road data ecosystem offers over 800 public digital services and has exteneded as a public good to another 24 countries.
With a commitment to safeguards in the Brazilian Digital Government Strategy, the Rural Environment Registry is also helping to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement by reforesting 12 million hectares.
SDG Digital unlocked $1.05 billion for investments in connectivity, infrastructure and skills.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin (left) and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner take the stage at SDG Digital 2024.
SDG Digital brought a surge of new investment pledges aimed at connecting the world's hardest-to-reach communities.
Notable pledges under the ITU-led Partner2Connect Digital Coalition included:
- Anatel, the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency, pledged 5G connectivity to schools in Brazil.
- NIGCOMSAT, which operates Nigerian communications satellite systems, pledged connectivity for 774 local government secretariats.
- The Global Esports Federation, which promotes the credibility, legitimacy and prestige of esports, pledged to make digital skills development, inclusion, connectivity and youth empowerment a part of its Gaming and Esports Acceleration Programme.
- e&, a global technology group, pledged to strengthen disaster resilience, capacity building, digital economy, women entrepreneurship, and health.
- NTIA, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the United States, pledged to support African Women Digital Leaders Training.
The Partner2Connect Digital Coalition has mobilized $52.14 billion worth of commitments. It aims to reach $100 billion by 2026.
The global community pushes for an inclusive digital future at Summit of the Future and beyond.
Global changemakers participate in the Summit of the Future Action Days preceding the UN Summit of the Future.
The weekend demonstrated a groundswell of action and ideas.
It set the stage for intensive discussions on technologies at the Summit of the Future on 22-23 September, followed by the High-Level Week (24-28 September) at the UN General Assembly.
Beyond the High-level Week, UN agencies are committed to ensuring that technology such as AI is used for the benefit of humanity.
SDG Digital is showing that together, we can create a digital future that is universal, inclusive, meaningful, sustainable and prosperous.