The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), cover everything from eliminating hunger to creating sustainable cities, and have been described by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon as “a plan of action for ending poverty in all its dimensions, irreversibly, everywhere”. But a report published in September by the London-based Overseas Development Institute (ODI) found that not a single goal will be met by 2030 if we continue as today. For some, an “outright reversal in trajectories” is required, especially around climate change.
With more than three billion users, the internet and ICT are driving forces in today’s world, relevant to the economy, to health, to education and to many other challenges. “Simply put, ICT will be the difference between attaining the goals and failing to even come close,” said Dr Jovan Kurbalija, director of the non-profit DiploFoundation and head of the Geneva Internet Platform, a digital policy platform, observatory and capacity-building centre. “The opportunities for progress in areas such as big data, the Internet of Things, development and e-commerce are enormous.”
Data could prove particularly useful, he believes, as it helps us plot how progress related to one SDG affects progress on another. “Water supply can affect health or peace. Innovation can improve economic growth. Big data can help us identify correlations and paternities among SDGs.”
The Geneva Internet Platform is working toward SDG 17 (“revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development”), by helping governments, civil society organisations, academic and technical communities to find resources related to digital policy and governance. It focuses particularly on small and developing countries. “Geneva-based organisations such as WHO, the WTO and the ITU tackle global policy issues that affect the lives of millions of people worldwide. We bring discussions in Geneva closer to communities around the world,” said Kurbalija. “We also help overcome policy silos and help connect global discussions to local needs. While big data matters, small data or a simple, inspiring story could make all the difference. The wisdom of many can be harvested using ICT.”
There are myriad organisations and businesses around the world already deploying ICT to help meet SDGs-related challenges, from BT’s Connecting Africa programme that has transformed the lives of 145,000 people in rural classrooms, clinics and communities through a project with SOS Children’s Villages, to international non-profit Close the Gap, both operating in sub-Saharan Africa. BT mapped their 2020 ambitions to the global goals in their recent Developing our Purpose report, and link Connecting Africa to six of the goals including SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities).
Close the Gap aims to bridge the digital divide by giving ICT equipment a second life in developing countries. Founder and managing director Olivier Vanden Eynde pinpointed SDG 4 (quality education), the battle against climate change, (SDG 13), gender equality, (SDG 5), and responsible consumption and production, (SDG 12), as the SDGs most likely to benefit from ICT.
Close the Gap’s own work has proven the relevance, he said. The team send high-quality, pre-owned computers donated by European companies to educational, medical and social projects in developing and emerging countries. For remote areas in Africa which are not connected to the electricity grid, Close the Gap has a DigiTruck, a mobile, multi-functional IT lab powered by solar energy. “We try to ensure that nobody is left out in our quest for worldwide access to inclusive and equitable education,” said Vanden Eynde.
“Many children in developing countries lack access to quality education and knowledge. This knowledge gap is increased by their limited connection to ICT, the key driver for improving a country’s educational and economic prospects in the modern world. Technology is an enabler, not the purpose in itself, but we can help build a better future for everyone by bridging the digital divide.”
And research backs this up, according to Paul Conneally, head of corporate communications at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). “Imagine if all the world’s people had proper access to healthcare, education or financial services. That is the potential that harnessing the power of ICTs can help realise. Connecting the unconnected and bringing mobile broadband to the world is within our grasp.”
He added that ICTs also enhance our ability to measure progress and achievements, to learn what is working and not working, and to improve the timeliness and quality of decision-making. Conneally points to a report released last month by PwC’s Strategy& which predicted that global internet inclusion could lift 500 million people out of poverty, and add more than $6tn (£4tn) to global GDP. The Global e-Sustainability Initiative, an industry body focusing on ICTs for a sustainable future, estimates in its SMARTer2030 report that ICT-enabled services will contribute an additional $6.5tn (£4.6tn) of revenue from the likes of increased agricultural yields, expanded e-commerce offerings and smart energy solutions.
Perhaps crucially, ICT enables a redistribution of power. Offered Kurbalija, “Vertically, ICTs can also promote a bottom-up approach. The implementation of the SDGs will depend on citizens and local communities taking ownership.”
Content on this page was produced to a brief agreed with BT, sponsor of the technology and innovation hub
