APCICT News

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in many countries in Asia and the Pacific and shown some success. However, successful digital transformation will require strategy, policymaking and capacity building and means to effectively harness technology for governance and sustainable development.  

The Asian and Pacific Training Centre for ICT for Development (APCICT/ESCAP) conducted a Virtual Review of the Draft Module on ICT Project Management Theory and Application for Digital Transformation project on 3 November 2021. The virtual meeting was convened with the objective of soliciting comments and feedback to ensure the module’s quality, accessibility, and relevance to the target audience of project leaders and civil servants.

The Asian and Pacific Training Centre for ICT for Development (APCICT/ESCAP), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Republic of the Maldives, held a High-Level Briefing on Data Protection and Privacy for senior government officials on 12 October 2021.

As the Pacific sub-region is still in the early stages of developing and improving national ICT infrastructure and cybersecurity capabilities, assistance is required in building cybersecurity capability, formulating guiding frameworks for long-term national cybersecurity and addressing information security and privacy gaps. 

The Asian and Pacific Training Centre for ICT for Development (APCICT/ESCAP) joined the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) in conducting an online training program on e-Commerce in Thailand from 13 to 14 September 2021 (1:00pm to 6:00pm, UTC+7).

The Asian and Pacific Training Centre for ICT for Development (APCICT/ESCAP) conducted a virtual seminar on Data Protection and Privacy for Indonesia. The event was co-organized with the Ministry of Communications and Informatics (KOMINFO) of the Republic of Indonesia and will be held from 24 to 27 August 2021. 

The widespread of ICTs has paved the way for a data revolution. This revolution offers governments new opportunities that can help increase efficiency, transparency, and improve public services. However, the slow adoption of data in governance can be attributed numerous reasons, including political and technical, such as the lack of data standards, poor data quality, poor information governance, and lack of appropriate policy frameworks. 

Recognizing the tremendous potential of Information and Communication Technologies in enhancing digital agriculture and catalyzing financial inclusion within small island developing States, APCICT/ESCAP partnered with Digital Transformation Centres (University of PNG), National Information and Communication Authority, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and East Sepik Provincial Administration to deliver a training on “Financial Literacy and AgriTech for Papua New Gu

Recognizing the critical role of local governments in managing disaster risk, protecting citizens and developing communities, APCICT/ESCAP and CityNet Secretariat co-organized a Workshop on ICT for Disaster Risk Management for Indonesian City Governments from 5 to 9 July 2021, in partnership with the Asian Institute of Technology and ITC University of Twente.