The 2016 ITU Global ICT CBS is to take place in Nairobi Kenya thanks to Communications Authority

ITU, the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies and tasked with allocating global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, always organizes biennial Global ICT Capacity Building Symposiums (CBS) through its Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT). The CBS target to bring together ICT stakeholders from across the world to discuss trends and developments in the sector. The 2016 ITU Global ICT CBS  has been organized to take place in Nairobi Kenya between 5th and 8th September 2016 at Safari Park Hotel. The events for 5th September are pre-events. The main event will take place on 6th to 8th September. The Symposium is to be hosted by Communications Authority of Kenya.

The 2016 ITU Global ICT CBS  themed “Embracing Capacity Building Opportunities in the Digital Era” comes at a time when global leaders have adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations. The SDGs in themselves are set to be achieved when major digital technology transformations are taking place and are expected to impact the way people live and societies operate. It is on this premise that industry regulator, Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), will be hosting the 2016 Global ICT Capacity Building Symposium in partnership with the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) from 5th to 8th September 2016 at the Safari Park Hotel.

The 2016 ITU Global ICT CBS  is set to bring together various industry players from across the world to deliberate on trends and developments in the sector and their effects for human and institutional capacity building. Usually, the CBS attracts participants from countries worldwide, as well as from regional and international organisations. Panellists and speakers include high-level officials such as Ministers, Director-Generals of Regulatory Authorities, heads of UN Organisations, CEOs of private sector companies, representatives from Universities and research institutions and other experts in ICT capacity building. Several thought leaders from the academic community are expected to make presentations at the Symposium.

The overall objective for the 2016 ITU Global ICT CBS is to provide strategic direction to the national and international community, on issues relating to capacity building in the area of ICT. It also aims to strengthen cooperation among the global ICT capacity building community, particularly as the world focuses on the achievement of the 17 SDGs across all development sectors.

For universities and other training providers, the Symposium provides a forum to gauge the market needs in terms of training and capacity building in the field of ICT, thus assisting them to effectively streamline their training and delivery programmes. Statistics released in July by ITU show that despite developing countries now accounting for the massive majority of Internet users, with 2.5 billion users compared to one billion users in developed countries; about 3.9 billion people across the world cannot access the vast resources available on the Internet, despite falling prices for ICT services.

In Africa, an estimated 75% of the population constitutes non-internet users. This calls for rapid development and investments in ICT skills by key stakeholders in the industry to not ensure increased participation in the economy, but also the formation of digital citizens for a digital society.

Appreciating the choice of Kenya as a host for the 2016 ITU Global ICT CBS , CA Director General, Mr. Francis Wangusi stated the country’s efforts to become a digital society. “As a country that is switched on when it comes to ICTs, we are delighted to be hosting the ITU CBS which brings together like-minded people to discuss industry capacity building. Kenya’s mobile phone penetration which stands at over 88% and internet penetration at 82.6% (approximately reaching 35.5 million individuals) continues to show our continued development and investment in ensuring that all Kenyans have access to ICT services thus presenting new opportunities for job creation and economic growth.” He said.

Key note speakers at the event will include, H.E. William Ruto, The Deputy President, Mr Joe Mucheru, CS, Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), Mr Fred Matiang’i CS, Ministry of Education, Mr Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General, ITU, Mr Francis Wangusi, Director General, Communications Authority of Kenya and Mr Brahima Sanou, Director Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU among others.

The outcomes of the Symposium will provide strategic guidance to the national and international community, including ITU, on capacity building in the field of ICT, and on strengthening collaboration among the global ICT capacity building community. This will directly contribute to the achievement of the SDGs across all development sectors. For universities and other training providers, the Symposium provides a forum to gauge the needs of the market in terms of training and capacity building in the field of ICT, and helps them shape their training and delivery programmes.

Kachwanya.com team will be at the 2016 ITU Global CBS to share with you what the ICT stakeholders have for the future development of the entire ICT sector globally and particularly in sub-saharan Africa.

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