Did you know that almost 85% of the global population was covered by a 4G network at the end of 2020? According to a survey analysed in ITU’s report Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures 2020, 93% of the world population has access to a mobile broadband network.
Major digital transformations enabled by the increasing accessibility of the Internet have impacted capacity building and skills development for the 21st century digital economy. And while the COVID-19 pandemic has led to another leap in the digitalisation of learning, working, and skill developing, it has also exacerbated the digital divide that reinforces social and economic disparities.
To seize opportunities presented by digitalisation and to keep up with new jobs requirements, equipping oneself with digital skills becomes essential. A research carried out by the World Economic Forum predicts that 54% of the population will need strong reskilling by 2022 – this need is even more pressing for developing countries. Digital skills are not merely a necessity for decent employment for individuals, but also a driver of social inclusion. Some initiatives and businesses are working to prove the point.
- Ajude o Pequeno: An initiative supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), to assist small companies in Brazil during the pandemic by offering institutional support and resources for its digitalisation process;
- Generation Connect: An initiative by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) aimed to engage and include global youth for equal participation in today’s digital change, and empower young people with skills and opportunities;
- Enablecode: The social enterprise that employs computing experts with disabilities, with a goal of transforming society’s perception of this group and give them the opportunity to become high-skilled professionals and be included;
- HeHe Academy: A program dedicated to fostering youth with digital skills and assisting businesses through digital transformation, with 69 percent of female enrolment, contributing to a more gender-inclusive development and employment.
Representatives from UNIDO, ITU, Enablecode, and Hehe Academy are not the sole attendees at the LKDF Forum 2021. Hosted by the Learning and Knowledge Development Facility (LKDF) – a platform by UNIDO – in collaboration with the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the LKDF Forum 2021 will take place on 22 September.
Under the theme “Digital Skills for an Inclusive Future,” the LKDF Forum 2021 will provide a connecting platform for experts, partners, and interested audiences to discuss the job-skill mismatch, propose solutions to bridge the digital skills gap, and promote economic and social inclusion.
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UNIDO Director General Mr. Li Yong and SIDA Director General Ms. Carin Jämtin will be joined by high-level dignitaries in the Opening Ceremony, followed by a theme talk on the links between digital skills and social inclusion. Six ensuing sessions will gather experts from private and public sectors, international organisations, and academia to discuss topics spanning from re- and up-skilling investment to inclusive business innovation.
Registrations for the LKDF Forum 2021 can be done by clicking here. Full coverage of the event will be published on Impakter. Stay tuned!
We appreciate Impakter for supporting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and for being a partner of the LKDF.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com. — Featured Photo Credit: UNIDO.
