By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) and the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) have signed a Joint Declaration aimed at
strengthening digital connectivity and supporting data-driven digital
development across Commonwealth nations.
The
agreement was signed in Geneva on the sidelines of the inaugural Global
Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and the AI for Good Summit, as the CTO
marks its 125th anniversary and continues efforts to build strategic
partnerships focused on inclusive digital transformation.
The
partnership will support a series of regional workshops across Africa, the
Caribbean, the Pacific and Asia, introducing member states to the ITU’s
Connectivity Planning Platform (CPP) and Global Economic Model and Study Tool
(GEMS).
Through
practical capacity-building activities, the initiative will help countries
develop evidence-based connectivity strategies, improve digital infrastructure
planning and create stronger frameworks for attracting investment to expand
access in underserved communities.
The
Joint Declaration was signed by Bernadette Lewis, Secretary-General of the
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, and Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava,
Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau.
The
CTO and ITU said the collaboration reflects their shared commitment to
accelerating digital inclusion by equipping governments with the tools and
knowledge needed to make informed decisions on connectivity investments.
The
partnership comes at a time when countries across the Commonwealth are
prioritising affordable and reliable digital access as a foundation for
economic growth, innovation and social development.
Through
the new cooperation framework, both organisations will work towards building a
more connected and digitally empowered Commonwealth by supporting member states
in closing connectivity gaps and strengthening their digital transformation
efforts.
