LocationsAmbassador of the European Union for the Pacific, His Excellency Mr. Sujiro Seam
The Executive Director, PIANGO – Ms. Emeline Siale Ilolahia
Representatives of the Pacific Island Chapter of the Internet Society (PICISOC)
Esteemed guests
Last but not least, the Pacific Hackathon Participants whichever part of the region or the world you are logging on from
Good morning and yadra from Fiji!
It is an absolute delight on behalf of UNDP to be physically present here at the University of the South Pacific, to welcome you to what I understand is the first ever Pacific led online hackathon.
At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the generous support of the European Union towards the UNDP Pacific Office Strengthening Public Finance Management and Governance Project in the Pacific, better known as the PFM project which enabled our partnership with the Pacific Internet Society and this event today.
I wish to commend the Pacific Internet Society for hosting this Pacific Hackathon and for reaching out to your regional and global community to come together to help civil society find innovative digital solutions to amplify Pacific voices and ensure that no one is left behind.
The very essence and objectives of this hackathon is in line with UNDP’s Digital Strategy 2022-2025, which aims to support countries and communities use digital technology to get ahead of the ever-evolving digital reality to accelerate work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Digitalization is also one of the three enablers of UNDP’s Strategic Plan to realise its ambitious goals.
Conversations on digital solutions can seem farfetched and far from the realities of marginalized communities in the Pacific. We know that the many inequalities we witness in the real world and which hamper our development are often mirrored and sometimes amplified in the digital realm. Access to the broadband in the Pacific is with some exceptions extremely costly and varies widely for men and women. Yet, digital results are a part of the solutions as much as they are a part of the challenge. I don’t think I need to mention the often life-saving services technology has offered in recent years as the COVID-19 pandemic isolated us. For this, we are grateful to the Pacific Internet Society to mobilise its network and members around such a worthy cause.
We are also thankful to PIANGO’s team and its Executive Director Emeline Siale Ilalohia for embracing the idea of “going digital” and providing the much needed guidance on the development of innovative digital solutions to amplify Pacific voices. In this regard, I want to recognize the work of so many of our partners through the Pacific, but specifically the work of the Civil Society Forum Tonga, who for the past year has been experimenting with such ideas and creating a digital platform for citizen voices.
Just last week, the Pacific Islands Forum held paramount talks between its members and international financial institutions and lenders on debt in the Pacific. At the opening, two voices stood out, calling for debt to not burden future generations. These voices reminded political and technical decision makers the money they manage is ultimately the citizen’s money, citizen current and future. These two voices came from civil society – including PIANGO.
Reframing debates and keeping decision makers focused on the end goal and people they serve is only one of the functions that civil society provides.
I know that we will hear more about the event in the remarks that will follow. Again, I welcome you all and wish you the very best for this inaugural Pacific hackathon. I look forward to viewing the pitches of your innovative ideas and more importantly seeing your prototypes turn into tools to advance and strengthen the work of civil society in the Pacific region.
Vinaka vakalevu.