http://www.it4all-bilbao.org/
What is the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)?
The Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a work process,
endorsed by the UN, to develop a common vision and understanding of
the Information Society, and to put into operation a jointly agreed
Plan of Action which makes it possible to ensure that the benefits of
the Information Society reach all persons.
What is the WSIS process?
It is organised into two phases: December 2003 (Geneva) and November
2005 (Tunis). In order to arrive at each of these important events,
work groups and preparatory meetings have been arranged.
Why is the WSIS important for Local Authorities?
Because it is the first time in history that the United Nations have
allowed the participation of Local Authorities in a World Summit,
traditionally reserved to States-Nations.
Why are Local Authorities important for the WSIS?
Local Authorities are the closest point of contact for their citizen,
thus enabling them to identify their true needs and oversee the
provision of services to satisfy those needs. Moreover, in the words
of the renowned expert Professor Manuel Castells, “The new hubs of
innovation and competitiveness will be structured around the
regions”. Currently, States are often too large to resolve the small
day-to-day problems that their citizens face and too small to tackle
global problems.
In any case, and in spite of their favourable initial starting
position, Local Authorities need to cooperate in order to improve the
effectiveness of their activities. Cooperation between cities and
regions is fundamental as it makes it possible to benefit from
experiences that have proved successful in other territories, with
the resulting saving in costs and in effort.
Unlike the situation for States, which have traditionally organised
their cooperation based on large international organisations, it is
not easy to coordinate effective cooperation formulas between Locales
Authorities. One solution, which at least is taking on increasing
importance at European Union level, is to form networks or
associations of Local Authorities in order to collaborate on specific
issues en (sustainable development, innovation, information society,
etc…). Experiences are usually shared in these networks, with joint
reflection taking place on matters of mutual interest. One example of
this is the Network of Local Authorities for the Information Society
IT4ALL
Conclusion: when faced with any change which directly affects
citizens, it is necessary to take into account Local Authorities as
the link between global and local.
How is the participation of the Local Authorities in the WSIS
coordinated?
The instrument chosen by the UNO in order to create a framework for
the participation of the Local Authorities of the world in this
process is UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and
Research), whose Executive Director, Mr. Marcel Boisard, is, at the
same time, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations. To
perform this task, UNITAR is counting on the CIFAL programme,
Decentralised Cooperation Programme, whose mission is to help local
players identify their priorities and strengthen their capabilities
in key areas for their development.
How was the participation process of Local Authorities during the 1st
phase of the WSIS (Geneva 2003)?
February 2003: International Congress “IT4ALL: Opportunities and
Challenges for the Regions in the new Information Society”, in Bilbao
(Region of the Basque Country). Creation of the “IT4ALL-Network of
Local Authorities for the Information Society” and the setting up of
the CIFAL BILBAO centre, under the auspices of the CIFAL programme,
to provide support for the network, and to promote and coordinate the
process. The preparatory process for the 1st Phase of the WSIS also
includes three preparatory meetings (PREPCOM meetings) which take
place in Geneva, at the second of which, held in February 2003, the
Committee of Representatives of Cities and Regions was formed.
July 2003: Regional Conference for Africa: Nouakchott (Mauritania)
October 2003: Regional Conference for Latin America - Caribbean:
Curitiba (Brazil)
October 2003: Regional Conference for Asia - Pacific: Shanghai (China).
4-5 December 2003: 1st World Summit of Cities and Local Authorities
on the Information Society, in Lyon (France), the final position of
the regions and cities was established, thereby forming the
contribution of the Local Authorities to the plan of action and to
the final declaration at Geneva (10-12 December 2003)
10-12 December 2003: 1st Phase of the WSIS, in Geneva. States, civil
society (including Local Authorities) and the private sector take
part. The Geneva Declaration is sighed.
The participation process of Local Authorities during the 2nd phase
of the WSIS (Tunis 2005):
The process of preparing the 2nd phase of the WSIS includes three
preparatory meetings (PREPCOM meetings): 24-26 June 2004: PrepCom-1,
Hammamet (Tunis), 17-25 February 2005: PrepCom-2, Geneva
(Switzerland) September 2005: PrepCom-3, Geneva (Switzerland)
From January 2004 to 9 November 2005: in order to prepare the
participation of the Local Authorities in the 2nd phase of the WSIS,
4 Regional Conferences will be held, a series of Thematic Workshops
based in the exchange of experiences and the formulation of
strategics orientations (see "Preliminary process": preliminary)
9-11 November 2005: the "II World Summit of Cities and Local
Authorities on the Information Society", Bilbao (Region of the Basque
Country), will establish the final position of the Local Authorities
and the contribution (Plan of Action) of the Local Authorities to the
final declaration in Tunis.
16-18 November 2005: 2nd Phase of the WSIS, en Tunis. The
contribution of the Local Authorities and other groups in the Civil
Society Division will be added to that of the States and to that of
the private sector, in order to produce the final position and the
Plan of Action to be implemented after this 1st World Summit on the
Information Society.
What will the Bilbao Summit represent within the WSIS?
The establishing of the position and commitments of the Local
Authorities as regards the WSIS, which will be incorporated in Tunis
(16-18 November 2005) together with those of the States, other groups
in the Civil Society Division and those of companies in order to
produce the final position and the Plan of Action to be implemented
starting in 2006.
Who is the Bilbao Summit intended for?
The Summit of Bilbao is intended for all of those responsible of
creating an Information Society accesible to all, that responds to
the needs of all citizens, and creates employment and new
professional competencies.
What does taking part in the Bilbao Summit contribute to a Local
Authority?
At the political level, it contributes towards strengthening the
international role of sub-State governments (cities and regions) as
key players in this and in other fields, due to their greater
proximity to citizens and their capability to meet their true
requirements.
At the technical level, an opportunity to learn about the successful
experiences of all regions in the world, not from a technological
point of view, but rather as regards the social and economic changes
that involve the Information Society.
How can I take part?
By coming to Bilbao on 9, 10 and 11 November 2005.
On-line, by contributing to the collective drawing-up of the Bilbao
Declaration and by proposing experiences you consider useful to
participate in the different spaces at the Summit.
How much does it cost to take part?
There is no registration cost to take part in the Summit.
The Summit organisers are negotiating with international development
institutions in order to establish aid packages to enable the cities
and regions with fewest resources to be present at the Summit in Bilbao.
What will the contents of the Summit be?
A plenary, 12 Thematic Workshops where Local Authorities will present
their vision on the Information Society , the discussion of the Draft
of the Declaration of Bilbao, and an interactive space where
successful partnership experiences will be presented.
The main issues to be discussed will be Solidarity and Cooperation on
digital matters between different regions of the world, the funding
of Information Society development policies in developing regions,
and Digital Inclusion Policies.
Who is organising this Summit?
The Summit of Bilbao is an iniciative of the Government of the region
of the Basque Country and UNITAR (United Nations Institute for
Training and Research)
CIFAL Bilbao, International Centre for Training of Local Authorities,
an initiative created jointly by the Region of the Basque Country and
UNITAR. This Centre organises training activities aimed at improving
the skills qualification of political and technical representatives
of Local Authorities on matters concerning the Information Society
and, in addition, is the coordinator of the IT4ALL- Network of Local
Authorities for the Information Society.
Who supports this Summit?
The United Nations Organisation, through UNITAR, United Cities and
Local Governments (UCLG), the Digital Solidarity Fund, the Basque
Government, Bilbao City Council, the Government of Spain and the
European Union, among others.
What is the CIFAL Programme?
It is a Training Programme for Local Authorities set up by UNITAR
(United Nations Institute for Training and Research). It currently
has 11 centres spread throughout the world.
What is IT4ALL?
IT4ALL- Network of Local Authorities for the Information Society, is
an initiative created with the dual purpose of ensuring that the
voice and opinions of the Local Authorities is heard at the WSIS and
of systematising and sharing the knowledge available on matters
concerning the Information Society, by designing the mechanisms for
cooperation in this field and putting them into practice.
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