Image: SDG Digital [Left] Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), [Right] Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). New York, 18 September 2023
New York City - New York: Digital technologies are key to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On September 17th, leaders from government, civil society, private sector, youth and academia gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the SDG Digital event. The event highlighted the importance of digital technologies in achieving the UN SDGs, and provided an opportunity to take stock of achievements, gaps, and opportunities before the 2030 deadline. The event was organized in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN tech agency, which works to improve access to information and communication technologies for underserved communities worldwide.
The SDG Action Weekend, which included the SDG Digital event, focused on bringing digital solutions for the SDGs to scale. The event featured the anticipated launch of the SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda, an expert-developed breakdown from ITU and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) together with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as knowledge partner and the Inter-American Development Bank as Agenda supporter, that emphasizes the wide-ranging importance of digital technologies and data in achieving the SDGs. The Agenda showcases 34 digital solutions with people-centered, collaborative, and scalable approaches. Digital technologies have the potential to play a pivotal role in supporting the global community to achieve the SDGs.
At the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda, only a fraction of the SDGs are on track and 30% are stalled or in reverse. Digital technologies can play a role in achieving 70% of the SDG targets. The SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda highlights 34 digital solutions that emphasize people-centered, collaborative, and scalable approaches. The Agenda highlights the wide-ranging importance of digital technologies and data, including digital skills, governance and regulations, financing, infrastructure, safety and security, content, applications, and services. With a range of real-world examples, The Agenda shows how game-changing digital solutions can accelerate progress in climate action, education, hunger, and poverty.
Digital technologies are transforming governments, economies, and societies, and can be employed to increase financial inclusion, enhance government efficiency, and tackle poverty. They have the potential to bring the SDGs back on track, and the SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda provides tools for effectively designing risk-sensitive digital transformation.
PVBLIC Foundation is proud to have supported ITU and the SDG Digital Day as part of the SDG Advisory Group, using our communications expertise and global media network to amplify ITU’s communications strategy. PVBLIC is happy to continue supporting SDG Digital and working with ITU to advance Sustainable Development around the globe.
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