IGF 2014

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Roundtable: Do the elements required to promote the Information Society/Knowledge Economy complement "basic" infrastructural development needs?

Running concurrently with the 2014 IGF is the 3rd International United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which will be held from 1 to 4 September 2014 in Apia, Samoa (preceded by activities related to the conference from 28 to 30 August 2014, also in Apia, Samoa). The Conference will focus the world’s attention on a group of countries that remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities.

Indeed, this focus is more than timely, given the increasing interest in the economies of SIDS by international Telecommunications companies, matched with the ongoing social, economic and environmental challenges faced within.

Within small island states, basic infrastructural challenges at the social and economic levels have often taken precedence of what may termed "higher order needs".

In other words, issues such as the availability of affordable healthcare, free universal primary and secondary education, safe, potable drinking water, food security, roads and transportation, crime and safety, among others will, in any Government national agenda, naturally take precedence over the development of a knowledge economy, increased and more equitable access to information and knowledge as well as the ability to compete, on more equal terms with counterparts in the developed world.

The 2014 SIDS Roundtable will tackle this constant dilemma and profer solutions to countries engaged in this balancing act on a daily basis and answer the provocative question - "How can issues relating to Internet Governance and Development in Small Island Developing States contribute to solving social and economic challenges?"

AGENDA

1. Opening & Introductions : Moderator (10 mins)

2. Discussant Statements: Maureen Hilyard, Carlton Samuels, Patrick Hosein, Karim Attoumani Mohamed, Anju Mangal (20 mins)

3. Roundtable Discussion with "Kickstart" Questions (30 mins)

- How can issues relating to Internet Governance and Development in Small Island Developing States contribute to solving social and economic challenges?

- Do the elements required to promote the Information Society/Knowledge Economy complement "basic" infrastructural development needs?

4. Discussant Final Responses and Statements (15 mins)

5. Setting the Research and Action Agenda - Next Steps and way Forward (15 mins)