To coincide with the Social Good Summit 2018 taking place at New York, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt is organizing a Digital Inclusion Innovation Camp in Cairo, in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The youth camp is taking place between 23 and 26 September, to develop mobile applications and web platforms to facilitate accessibility of public services for Persons with Disabilities. It targets young people between the age of 20 and 35 years old, with a good background in smart phones apps and web development, graphic design, media, communications and social engagement. This week aims to raise awareness on the importance of reducing societal barriers for Persons with Disabilities by facilitating access to information and public services through ICTs.

“We are pleased to partner this year with ITU and UNESCO. As we mark the Social Good Summit, we recognize that digital accessibility can in many ways help improve the lives of the persons with disabilities. Until now, they encounter societal challenges that hinder their access to public services. Through this camp, we aim to promote digital inclusion and accessibility that facilitate the persons with disabilities’ access to information and public services and at the same time address their needs in a more effective manner.” According to Randa Aboul-Hosn, UNDP Country Director.

“The Emergence of knowledge societies and the rise of digital economies are bringing many opportunities, but these transitions are occurring so quickly that some vulnerable segments of society are not participating in these benefits. We welcome the commitment of ITU, UNDP and our other national and regional partners who are joining forces to raise awareness, build human capacity and create conditions for broader and more equitable participation in the digital landscapes”. According to Dr. Ghaith Fariz, Director of UNESCO’s Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States.

“The Arab region today is more connected than ever and as a result more and more we are seeing marginalized communities engaging in societies thanks to access to information and communication technologies.  We are happy to collaborate with UNDP and UNESCO in organizing the Digital Inclusion Innovation Camp as part of Digital Inclusion Week” According to Mr. Ebrahim Al Haddad, Regional Director of the ITU Arab Regional Office

As part of the week’s events, UNDP Project Manager and Director of the UNDP-Ministry of Communication and Information Technology ICT Trust Fund, Eng. Hoda Dahroug spoke on 24 September at the ITU-UNESCO-led Digital Inclusion Tech Talks. The event raised awareness on the importance of digital inclusion and highlighted ongoing initiatives that are supporting advancements in the region towards knowledge societies and a digital economy. On the following day, UNDP Programme Officer Nadine Abou El-Gheit spoke at the Women Digital Inclusion Day, organized by the Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. Abou El-Gheit highlighted the challenges women face in starting their own businesses.

The camp is part of the Arab Regional Digital Inclusion Week taking place between the 23 and 28 September 2018 to support to the implementation of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC 2014) Arab Regional Initiative titled “Ensuring access to telecommunications/Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), in particular for persons with disabilities”. It also comes in celebration of UNESCO’s International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), which is commemorated each year on the 28^th of September 2018.

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For more information, please contact:

Abdel Hamid Ezzat, Communications Specialist, Innovation for Development, UNDP abdelhamid.ezzat@undp.org

UNDP

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. With offices in more than 177 countries and territories, we offer a global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

About the Social Good Summit

The intersection of technology and new media has redefined our understanding of human progress. In the midst of this rapidly changing world, the Social Good Summit focuses on where we’re headed. Held annually during the United Nations General Assembly week, the Summit unites a lively community of global citizens and progressive thought leaders around a common theme: #2030NOW.