The International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the La Francophonie, have
signed a Joint Declaration of Cooperation in Paris with a view to strengthening
partnerships between these two organizations.
The strengthening of
this cooperation according to a statement, aims to meet the needs of
French-speaking countries in terms of digital technology and it in line in
particular with the decisions of the 18th Summit of La Francophonie
held in Djerba, Tunisia and the Strategic Plan for ITU 2024-2027 adopted at the
Plenipotentiary Conference, held in Bucharest, Romania both held in last year.
Speaking during the
signing ceremony, the Secretary General of the La Francophonie, Louise
Mushikiwabo emphasized that the renewed cooperation around areas of common
interest with current challenges corresponds to the expectations of our
populations.
“These are concrete
and measurable actions. This joint commitment between the OIF and the ITU aims
to give new impetus to our cooperation in favor of the economic and social
development of the Member States of La Francophonie, in particular the
developing countries and the least developed,” she stated.
In her official
remarks, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin underlined that the Declaration of joint cooperation between the
ITU and the OIF comes at a time when digital technology is taking an
increasingly important place on the international scene, that it is a a tool
that should help accelerate connectivity and sustainable digital transformation
within and beyond the French-speaking world.
The actions envisage through this Declaration
aims to contribute to connectivity for all and a sustainable digital
transformation. The areas of collaboration taken into account relate to advocacy
in afvor of digital isolation and respect for multilingualism within the
framework of interntional consultations and work in this area. They also relate
to the acceleration of digital transformation in the French-speaking world, the
promotion of French –speaking expertise, as wellas the appropriation of digital
issues, in particular by young people and women.
It also involves supporting capacity building
and the exchange of good practices, as well as the development of joint
projects in favor of French-speaking populations and schools and universities.
