Unescap of canada 2023 - 2023 project

Global Affairs Canada, in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Government of Nepal, held a consultation related to a new initiative to support the growth of women entrepreneurs as a strategy to address poverty reduction, improve social well-being and promote sustainable economic growth.

The five-year project titled, ‘Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship: Creating a Gender-Responsive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem’ aims to create an enabling policy and business environment that enhances women entrepreneurs’ access to capital through innovative financing mechanisms as well as increase their use of ICT and digital solutions.

In September 2018, Global Affairs Canada announced a $13.9 million grant to ESCAP, over five years (2018-2023) for projects that aim to reduce the barriers women-owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in South Asia, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific face in growing their businesses. For example, access to finance is a key barrier that the project will address through the use of innovative financing mechanisms, such as impact investing and women`s bonds.

More than 110 policymakers, MSME representatives and other stakeholders participated in today’s national consultation on integrating women’s needs and considerations into policy and other initiatives supporting entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and creating an enabling environment for businesses.

“Promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls is the most effective approach to achieving sustainable development goals,” said Amanda Strohan, Acting Deputy Ambassador of Canada to Nepal. “However, women entrepreneurs continue to face barriers. Tackling the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs will require innovative approaches, including novel financing mechanisms and technologies. Canada is pleased to support the Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship project to provide women-owned enterprises in Nepal with the resources, skills and an enabling environment needed to grow their businesses and generate sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”

“Developing women’s entrepreneurship presents an invaluable tool for boosting Nepal’s economy as well as empowering women. Yet women’s entrepreneurship is hindered by lack of access to finance and ICT tools for business development. The case for investing in women’s economic empowerment is compelling. Women are true agents of change whose innovations can lift companies, communities, and countries. Together, governments, the United Nations, civil society and the private sector can improve women’s and girls’ prospects,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Alisjahbana.

During the consultation, ESCAP and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) announced the winners of the project’s Women Fintech MSME Innovation Fund and thanked the Government of Canada, the Dutch Development Bank (FMO) and Visa Inc. for their support to this initiative. Nepal’s Aeloi Technologies and Khalti (Sparrow Pay) were among the 10 winning innovative business models.

In recent years, Nepal has made significant progress regarding its socio-economic status. However, it is estimated that women own only three per cent of MSMEs and face various barriers to entrepreneurship. These barriers include, amongst others, limited access to finance and ICT infrastructure, lack of financial and business knowledge, and discriminatory social norms.

Aeloi Technologies, one of the winners of the Women Fintech MSME Innovation Fund has proposed to introduce a green energy mobility platform to Kathmandu.

Khalti, another winner, is developing a mobile wallet and payment gateway for the first time bankers in Nepal. Khalti intends to onboard women MSMEs by providing financial and digital literacy training through their local partners.

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives announced a total grant of $77,900 to three projects to be implemented by civil society organizations in Nepal this year. The projects include Reducing incidences of sexual and gender-based violence in Godavari Municipality in Nepal through transformative behavioural change, including awareness-raising, training and advocacy; to be implemented by Prerana. Decreasing violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people in Nepal through sensitization workshops, capacity building, media messaging, and local stakeholder coordination meetings; to be implemented by Blue Diamond Society.

Promoting the adoption of climate smart agriculture practices among female smallholder farmers of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality through integrated training and establishment of resource centres/demonstration sites of Climate Smart technologies; to be implemented by Small Earth Nepal.

World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2023

WSIS Action Lines for building back better and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs.

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The annual World Summit on the Information Society Forum is a global multistakeholder platform facilitating the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines for advancing sustainable development, organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS Action Line co-/facilitators and other UN organizations. It provides an opportunity for information exchange, knowledge creation and sharing of best practices, while identifying emerging trends and fostering partnerships, taking into account the evolving Information and Knowledge Societies.

The WSIS Forum 2023 is scheduled to be held from 13–17 March 2023 at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva, with the support of remote participation. Virtual workshops will continue in April & May. The theme of the WSIS Forum 2023 is WSIS Action Lines for building back better and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs.

WSIS Action Line Facilitators

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ITU

UNESCO

UNDP

UNCTAD

FAO

ILO

ITC

UNDESA

UNHCR

UNICEF

UNIDO

UNODC

UNEP

UPU

WMO

WIPO

WHO

WFP

UN Women

UNECA

UNECLAC

UNESCAP

UNESCWA

UNECE

United Nations Technology Bank

UNU

WSIS Forum 2022 Chairman

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H.E. Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami)
Minister
Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy
Nigeria

Win & Share

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Healthy Ageing Innovation Prize

The WSIS Healthy Ageing Innovation Prize focusses on ICTs that specifically address the needs of people 60+ to achieve and sustain an active and engaged life as they age. Interested stakeholders are invited to make submissions starting from 1 October 2022 to 20 January 2023.

Learn more »

Photo Contest

Building a collage of ICT for Sustainable Development photographs from around the world demonstrating how ICTs are playing an enabling role in achieving the SDGs. The three winning entries from the WSIS Photo Contest will be awarded and presented at the WSIS Forum 2023.

Learn more »

WSIS Prizes 2023

From 7 September 2022 to 7 December 2022, all WSIS stakeholders are invited to submit related projects to the WSIS Prize contest. The contest was developed as a mechanism to evaluate projects and activities that leverage the power of ICTs to advance sustainable development.

Learn more »

Special Initiatives & Special Tracks

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Upon request of the WSIS stakeholders, special tracks in various topics will also be organised throughout the WSIS Forum 2023. Please see below special tracks that have been confirmed to date while we await the conclusion of the Open Consultation Process.

ICTs and Gender Mainstreaming

WSIS Special Initiative

Dedicated to the issues of bridging the gender divide, maintaining gender equality, and a 50/50 gender balance Forum through initiatives such as the Repository of Women in Tech and WSIS Gender Trendsetters.

Multistakeholder Alliance on ICTs and Older Persons

WSIS Special Initiative

A WSIS Multistakeholder Alliance on ICTs and Older Persons created across different stakeholders types to foster healthy ageing.

ICTs and Youth

Special Track

WSIS aims to include youth perspectives and engage young people in discussions about how technology can provide opportunities to address some of the world’s most pressing issues and provides a platform where youth can offer their insights and understanding of the information society, its challenges, and opportunities, and where they can raise questions but also propose solutions to harvesting the power of ICTs towards equally distributed social impact.

ICTs and Older Persons

Special Track

The ICTs and Older Persons track addresses the role of technology in achieving healthier ageing, but also how technology can help us build smarter cities, combat age-based discrimination at the workplace, ensure financial inclusion of older persons, and support millions of caregivers across the world.

ICTs and Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and Specific Needs

Special Track

The ICTs and Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and Specific Needs track aims to inform and observe how ICTs can help people living with disabilities whilst focusing on progressing towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals..

ICTs and Indigenous Peoples and Cultures

Special Track

There are over 476 million indigenous peoples living in 90 countries across the world, accounting for 6.2 per cent of the global population. Indigenous peoples are the holders of a vast diversity of unique cultures, traditions, languages and knowledge systems. They have a special relationship with their lands and hold diverse concepts of development based on their own world-views and priorities.

ICTs for Developing Countries (and LDCs)

Special Track

This new special track aims to highlight good practices in the implementation of ICTs within developing and least developed countries, while identifying solutions and opportunities to advance progression towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Cybersecurity

Special Track

As ICT usage becomes increasingly ubiquitous, cybersecurity remains crucial to ensuring universal, secure, and equitable access to the internet. This special track will encompass sessions aligning with the WSIS Action Line C5: Building Confidence and Security in the Use of ICTs.

ICTs and Emerging Technologies for sustainable development and ICTs for Industry 4.0

Special Track

Emerging technologies are set to have a critical impact in our future. Join us in this special track to explore how frontier technological solutions will address sustainable development challenges and facilitate industry innovation in a rapidly changing world.

ICTs for Well-being and Happiness

Special Track

Over the past few decades, ICTs have transformed substantially many aspects of our daily lives. How can we evaluate the pervasive effects of ICTs on individuals’ well-being, and shape ICT research and innovation activities towards valuable trajectories? This special track will explore the value of digital technologies in supporting healthy lifestyles across all demographics.

ICTs and Sports

Special Track

Sport is a one of the most powerful platforms for advancing inclusion and social equality. This new special track will explore how sport can be harnessed to drive sustainable development and peace, and the ways innovative technologies can advance the world of sport for development.

Sponsor

Moving towards 2025, the WSIS Forum will build upon the outcomes of the WSIS+10 Review and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Explore the benefits of becoming a partner and available packages.