World Dialogue on Regulation

Ibero-American Meeting on the UN Millennium Goals and the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
28-29 September, 2006 – Punta del Este, Uruguay

The event was organized in a multi-stakeholder fashion, emphasising, among other topics, the importance of strategic public-private partnerships, the linkages between ICT and social development in Ibero-America, the development of telecoms in the region and the private sector contribution to the MDGs.

High level staff from leading institutions in the field of ICT-based social development, both from the public and private sector, participated in this event, including representatives from civil society networks, regulators, public administrations, academics, operators, manufacturers, and international organisations. DIRSI coordinator, Olga Cavalli also participated in the event and prepared this summary of the thematic reports – focusing on the aspect of indicators, which will help to further guide policies and strategies for using ICTs in support of the UN MDGs. Cavalli’s complete report in Spanish is available at the DIRSI website.

Plenary sessions and six discussion groups in parallel working sessions considered issues around economic growth, e-government, economic divide, geographical divide, capacity building and health. Each group assessed opportunities offered by public-private partnerships for reducing inequities, focusing on specific courses of action. These ideas were summarized in six documents presented at the closing of the event. These documents are available for download from AHCIET’s website.

Rafael Fernández de Alarcón and Jorge Melo – responsible for the technical coordination of the meeting – provided an introductory presentation of the methodology to be followed. The working groups presented the following conclusions with regards to developing a body of indicators for the different thematic perspectives.

ECONOMIC GAP
It was observed that we are currently living in a so-called information age, which is marked by profound technological transformations and an emerging new economy. This new economy, according to Manuel Castells, has three main interlinked features:

1. It is centred on knowledge and information as the basis for production, productivity and competitiveness for companies, regions and countries.
2. It has a global reach, since the main economic activities are globally articulated and work in real time as a single unit.
3. It works in networks: decentralized networks within companies, networks between companies, networks between companies and small and medium subsidiary companies.

But the information society does not reach everyone in the same way. It is clear that these new technologies constitute a powerful tool for those at the base of the social pyramid but, as a result of the existing digital divide, the poor have considerably fewer opportunities than the rich to benefit from the application of these new technologies in productive activities.

In order to change this situation, we expect that this Ibero-American Summit will make an explicit statement on the impact of ICT on development. Authorities need to be made aware of the political impact of ICT and their role in narrowing down the economic divide, increasing income, generating employment and improving productivity.

Indicators

1. Quantitative/penetration indicators are important but they do not reflect the quality of usage or the appropriateness of the contents
2. Penetration of data development (Internet, mobile phones)
3. Percentage of teleworkers
4. Community computers per inhabitants
5. Polls and qualitative studies:

a. Business-owners’ perspectives on how the Internet affects their companies’ productivity
b. Internet-based companies (receiving and placing orders, customer support, chain supply management, e-learning, etc.)
c. Business projects significantly contributing to generating new income sources and higher benefits
d. Expectations for the next five years
e. Likelihood of investing in ICT

Note: Indicators should contemplate gender, ethnicity and age groups.

EDUCATION GAP
The following proposals were made, to effect:

1. Assessment of the education gap in Ibero-America
2. Trend analysis according to the MDGs
3. Previous experiences and best practices
4. Measurement indicators

Indicators

1. Number of students per PCs
2. Number of  school PCs with broadband connectivity
3. Number of teachers trained in the pedagogical use of ICT
4. Number of schools with computer labs with broadband connectivity
5. Number of schools with broadband connectivity in the classrooms
6. Number of university students at the entry level, percentage graduating from university (particularly in technical careers)
7. Investment in R&D
   

GEOGRAPHIC GAP
It was stated that, alongside coverage, access and investment, indicators should effectively incorporate a dynamic measurement of the use of ICT by the population. Indicators, both for individuals and municipalities were classified into three different groups: access, use and impact. The use of simple and generally easy-to-understand indicators was recommended. The following indicators were proposed.

Indicators

Access

1. Percentage of individuals with access to ICT (voice and data services should be differentiated)
2. Percentage of municipalities with access to ICT (voice and data services should be differentiated)
3. Increases in infrastructure investment

Usage

1. Percentage of individuals with access to voice services
2. Percentage of individuals with access to data services
3. Increases in training investment

Impact

1. Measurement of impact by assessing the correlation with other simple health, education and income indicators in different municipalities
2. Correlation of the previous indicator with the incorporation of ICT in municipal procedures
   

HEALTH AND DISABILITY GAP
Ibero-American countries share many problems with the rest of the world, such as funding shortages, increase in public services demand and inability to meet medical care needs. These countries also have to deal with their geographical extension and features, among other natural and communication barriers, making access to public health services a determining element in the population’s well-being. These services constitute a strategic resource in the development of a country. Health resources are concentrated in the most populated cities and making these services available to all of the country’s inhabitants may prove to be an extremely expensive and difficult task. Incorporation of ICT in health services would contribute to a progressive process of expanding access to these services, as well as increasing their quality.

In this context, the e-health initiatives are called to play an important role in reducing geographical barriers, as help alter entrenched conditions and motivate health authorities and health care providers, both from the public and the private sectors, to make strategic decisions to provide good quality, specialised health care services to marginalised municipalities. ICT can also play an important role in facilitating access to information on health prevention and in the integration of disabled people to society, contributing to social inclusion.

Indicators

Indicators should not be restricted to access. More importantly, indicators relative to the use of ICT-based health services, as well as their impact on the population’s health, should be considered. In addition to the indicators proposed in the report, the following proposals could be considered.

Access

1. Percentage of medical facilities with access to ICT-based health services
2. Percentage of health personnel trained in ICT
3. Percentage of medical facilities integrated into tele-health networks

Usage

1. Percentage of medical facilities that have incorporated ICT into their management and reporting processes
2. Percentage of health-related local content certified by the national regulator
3. Percentage of medical facilities integrated into tele-health networks

Impact

1. Percentage of the population covered by tele-health services
   

ECONOMIC GROWTH
How do ICTs contribute to economic growth?

• There is a correlation between a country’s competitiveness and development and access to and usage of ICT in that country (source: World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report).
• The role of investments in ICT for driving the economic growth, both for the mid- and long-term, should be understood. Positive influences of ICT on economic growth can be fostered through specific policies, particularly in high impact areas. such as: promotion of clusters of companies, development of e-government initiatives, technology investment funds, training in technology and the establishment of an enabling environment for the development of ICT.
• The digital divide, in its various forms, stands in the way of ICT-based economic development, leading to a vicious circle. However, appropriate use of ICT to bridge these divides can accelerate economic growth rates, impelling a virtuous circle.
• Application of ICT can have a transversal impact on the productivity and competitiveness of countries in the globalised economy. Adequate use of ICT increases business’ competitiveness, providing better opportunities, in particular, to smaller companies.
• Additionally, the use of ICT generates new economic activities that foster growth (such as telework, e-commerce, etc.).
• The Ibero-American ICT industry, in particular the software and content industries, should identify its own competitiveness niche.

Indicators

• Relevant indicators need to be measurable. Thus, it is recommended that countries have a ‘satellite account’ for ICT, to clearly establish their contribution to the national product in their respective systems of national accounts.
• Uniform methodologies should be available to measure the penetration and use of ICT – for the Internet in particular.
• Indicators should consider tendencies and profiles in the use of new technologies by companies, citizens and governments.
• There should be organisations in charge of periodically following indicators, and that promote the exchange of information, good practices and the technological prospective studies at the regional level (such as a permanent Statistical Observatory).
  

E-GOVERNMENT
ICTs are powerful tools that can be used to improve efficiency and transparency in public administration, as well as to promote citizens’ participation in public issues. These are key elements to build a country’s governability and, therefore, electronic government can contribute towards the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals.

Indicators

This group’s experts made the following comments and recommendations regarding indicators:

• ICTs are tools, which should be measured by the impact they generate, and not just by the technology itself. Indicators should be a able to assess such an impact.
• A continuous monitoring of ICT is advised. For example, citizens should be asked about their experience for each transaction they participate in.
• Indicators to assess the permanence of e-Government projects should be developed as a means of promoting the sustainability of these projects.
• Citizen participation should be measured.
• Indicators should convey time and financial costs; the cost per click was mentioned as an example.
• Quality indicators to assess interface security, design, accessibility (for the disabled), openness to citizens’ participation (how to measure), and vertical and horizontal integration should be included.
• Number of public consultations.
• Number of citizens’ consultations or petitions, via email, to the government.
• Percentage of ICT-mediated state procurement.
• Indicators should be organised in a matrix of three groups: availability, usage and impact, with each group measuring the three main areas of e-Government benefits: transparency, efficiency and citizen participation.

The following presentations were made and are available for download (in Spanish).

The private sector’s contribution to the fulfilment of the UN Millennium Development Goals (La contribución de las empresas a la consecución de los objetivos del milenio de la ONU)
Manuel Escudero
Director, Global Compact Networks Office of the UN Secretary-General

IDB’s contribution to the Working Groups themes
(La Contribución del BID a la Temática de los Grupos de Trabajo)
Danilo Piaggesi
Inter-American Development Bank

Ibero-American ICT in the Global Context
(Las TICs Iberoamericanas en el Entorno Mundial)
Andrés Font, Director, ENTER

Why public-private partnerships?
(Por qué las Alianzas Público-Privadas)
Federico Cuneo, President, Forum Empresa

Why public-private partnerships?
(Por qué las Alianzas Público-Privadas)
Guillermo Adams, President, Nearco

ICT and development: Importance of public-private partnerships
(TICs y Desarrollo: Importancia de las Alianzas Público-Privadas)
Sergio Angel, Manager, Public Sector Bussiness Development, Cisco South-America, CISCO

Further details:

Secretaría General Iberoamericana (SEGIB)

Asociación Hispanoamericana de Centros de Investigación y Empresas de Telecomunicaciones (AHCIET)