Digital Compact
Digital technologies are as vital to modern life as natural resources like air and water. Our well-being and development depend on their global availability, and their potential can be optimized only through shared access and use. As we adapt our stewardship of energy and water in the climate crisis, we must collectively address the risks of digital harms and maximize the potential of digital technologies for the common good. The Global Digital Compact should establish principles and objectives for multi-stakeholder action, building on the foundations laid by the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society (2005) and subsequent multi-stakeholder processes. The Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI) is uniquely positioned to drive these initiatives, leveraging its extensive network and expertise in risk management, sustainability, and innovation.
Vision
The vision of the Global Digital Compact is to ensure an open, free, secure, and human-centered digital future that aligns with the principles of the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The compact aims to foster multi-stakeholder cooperation, articulate shared principles and objectives, and identify concrete actions for implementation. This involves creating a global framework that integrates existing digital cooperation processes and supports dialogue and collaboration among regional, national, industry, and expert organizations and platforms. GCRI can play a pivotal role in this vision through its strategic initiatives and mechanisms.
Key Objectives and Actions
Digital Connectivity and Capacity-Building
Objective: Close the digital divide and connect all people, particularly vulnerable groups, to the internet in meaningful and affordable ways.
Actions:
Member States: Implement policies and financial models to encourage telecommunications operators to bring affordable connectivity to remote areas. Develop regulatory frameworks that incentivize investment in digital infrastructure.
All Stakeholders: Agree to common targets for universal and meaningful connectivity and track progress. Extend connectivity mapping from schools to medical facilities and public institutions. Coordinate actions for digital training, especially for women, girls, and rural populations. Engage in public-private partnerships to expand digital access.
Multilateral Organizations: Set a revised target of $100 billion in pledges to the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition by 2030. Accelerate efforts to connect all schools to the internet by 2030. Support initiatives that provide affordable devices and internet access to underserved communities.
GCRI Initiatives: Leverage the GCRI's global network to facilitate partnerships between governments, private sector entities, and NGOs to drive connectivity projects. Utilize the Nexus Competence Cells (NCCs) to provide digital skills training in local communities, ensuring inclusive access to digital resources.
Digital Cooperation for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Objective: Make targeted investments in digital public infrastructure and services, and advance global knowledge on digital public goods to catalyze progress on the SDGs.
Actions:
Member States: Develop a framework of design principles for safe, inclusive, and sustainable digital public infrastructure. Create national strategies that integrate digital solutions to address SDG targets. Build a global repository of experiences for digital public infrastructure and services.
All Stakeholders: Commit to sharing governance and regulatory experiences. Align international principles with national measures and improve regulatory capacities. Promote digital literacy and skills training to empower individuals and communities.
Private Sector: Invest in digital innovations that support sustainable development. Collaborate with governments and NGOs to develop scalable digital solutions for public services.
GCRI Initiatives: Utilize the Integrated Learning Account (ILA) to provide continuous education on digital literacy and governance. Implement the Integrated Value Reporting System (iVRS) to monitor and report on the impact of digital infrastructure investments on SDG progress.
Global Digital Commons
Objective: Develop and govern digital technologies to enable sustainable development, empower people, anticipate risks, and address harms effectively.
Actions:
All Stakeholders: Share governance and regulatory experiences, align international frameworks with national practices, and develop agile governance measures. Commit to principles and actions set out in the Global Digital Compact through sustained, practical multi-stakeholder cooperation. Establish platforms for continuous dialogue and collaboration on digital governance.
International Organizations: Provide technical support and resources to countries developing digital governance frameworks. Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity-building initiatives.
GCRI Initiatives: Deploy the Decentralized Innovation Commons Ecosystem (DICE) to facilitate open innovation and collaboration in digital governance. Use the Global Risks Index (GRIx) to identify and mitigate digital risks, ensuring technologies are developed and used sustainably and ethically.
Implementation, Follow-up, and Review
The success of the Global Digital Compact hinges on effective implementation, underpinned by sustained, networked collaboration. Different stakeholders would be responsible for implementing the Compact at various levels, respecting regional contexts and national policies. Existing cooperation mechanisms, like the Internet Governance Forum and the World Summit on the Information Society, alongside UN entities such as ITU and UNESCO, would support implementation by providing knowledge, guidance, and expertise.
A Digital Cooperation Forum, informed by annual reports and facilitated by a diverse advisory group, would regularly assess progress, facilitate peer learning, and catalyze practical efforts. This forum would ensure transparent dialogue, reduce duplication of efforts, and support evidence-based knowledge-sharing on digital trends. The forum could publish regular updates on the state of digital cooperation, highlighting successes and identifying areas needing improvement.
GCRI Initiatives: Establish a dedicated GCRI Digital Cooperation Council (DCC) to oversee the implementation of the Global Digital Compact within the GCRI framework. The DCC would coordinate efforts across different regions and sectors, leveraging the Regional Stewardship Boards (RSBs) and National Working Groups (NWGs) to ensure localized implementation and feedback.
The Global Digital Compact aims to establish a cohesive, multi-stakeholder approach to managing the digital space, ensuring that digital technologies are harnessed for the common good. By fostering international cooperation, setting clear objectives, and facilitating sustained dialogue and action, the Compact seeks to bridge digital divides, advance the SDGs, and create a secure and inclusive digital future for all.
Commitment
The GCRI's commitment to global risk management, sustainability, and innovation aligns closely with the principles of the Global Digital Compact. The GCRI can play a pivotal role in advancing the Compact's objectives through its extensive network of experts and stakeholders. By integrating digital governance and cooperation frameworks into its strategic initiatives, the GCRI can help ensure that digital technologies contribute to global resilience, sustainability, and security.
Digital Connectivity and Capacity-Building: The GCRI can leverage its partnerships to support policies and financial models that bring affordable connectivity to underserved areas, enhancing global digital inclusion. This involves working with governments to create enabling environments for digital infrastructure investment and supporting initiatives that provide digital skills training.
Digital Cooperation for SDGs: By fostering targeted investments in digital public infrastructure, the GCRI can accelerate progress on the SDGs. This includes developing frameworks for safe and inclusive digital public services and sharing best practices globally. The GCRI can also facilitate partnerships between the public and private sectors to drive innovation in digital solutions that address SDG challenges.
Global Digital Commons: The GCRI can facilitate the development of governance frameworks that ensure digital technologies are used sustainably and ethically. By promoting multi-stakeholder cooperation, the GCRI can help address digital risks and harness opportunities for the common good. This includes advocating for policies that protect data privacy and security while enabling innovation.
Implementation, Follow-up, and Review: The GCRI can support the implementation of the Global Digital Compact through its global networks and expertise in risk management. By participating in the Digital Cooperation Forum, the GCRI can contribute to assessing progress, facilitating dialogue, and driving practical solutions. The GCRI can also provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to countries developing digital governance frameworks.
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