#capacity-building

The Open-ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025 will convene for its eighth substantive session (8- 12 July 2024) to continue its work on issues related to information security in the context of international security.

In 2020, the General Assembly through resolution 75/240, established a new five-year open-ended working group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025. The group is mandated to further develop the rules, norms and principles of responsible behaviour of States; to consider initiatives of States aimed at ensuring security in the use of information and communications technologies; to establish, under the auspices of the United Nations, regular institutional dialogue with the broad participation of States; to continue to study, with a view to promoting common understandings, existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security, inter alia, data security, and possible cooperative measures to prevent and counter such threats, and how international law applies to the use of information and communications technologies by States, as well as confidence-building measures and capacity-building.

Watch the (2nd meeting) Open-ended working group on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) - Eighth Substantive Session (8-12 July 2024)!

The Open-ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025 will convene for its eighth substantive session (8- 12 July 2024) to continue its work on issues related to information security in the context of international security.

In 2020, the General Assembly through resolution 75/240, established a new five-year open-ended working group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025.

The group is mandated to further develop the rules, norms and principles of responsible behaviour of States; to consider initiatives of States aimed at ensuring security in the use of information and communications technologies; to establish, under the auspices of the United Nations, regular institutional dialogue with the broad participation of States; to continue to study, with a view to promoting common understandings, existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security, inter alia, data security, and possible cooperative measures to prevent and counter such threats, and how international law applies to the use of information and communications technologies by States, as well as confidence-building measures and capacity-building.

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Watch the (1st meeting) Open-ended working group on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) - Eighth Substantive Session (8-12 July 2024)!

Led by the Co-Chairs of the UNTFSSE, Simel Esim from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Chantal Line Carpentier from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the virtual gathering brought together representatives from Members (UN Entities and the OECD) and Observer organizations to share international and regional updates to spur further collaboration on the SSE.

The call began with a welcome to the representatives of new Members, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) as an Observer.

Heidi Christ, lead of Made51 at UNHCR, expressed recommitment towards the task force, noting that, “Livelihoods for refugees is of primary concern to UNHCR, especially as the the refugee crisis deepens and longer-term solutions are needed. We are looking at the solidarity economy as way to offer solutions to refugees in a more protective environment”.

Leida Rijnhout, Chief Executive, WFTO, was appreciative of the positive response received from Members and Observers regarding their joining the task force. She highlighted the link between the SSE and the Fair Trade movement, sharing that “At the WFTO, we certify enterprises based on the fair trade principles. We are also a movement of entrepreneurial activists that promote people and planet over profit.”

Following introductions and general updates, the Co-Chairs presented the new UNTFSSE Action Plan, which details priorities and responsibilities for advancing the SSE agenda and implementing the UNGA Resolution A/RES/77/281. This plan, designed to foster policy coherence, drive capacity building, improve statistics, and increase access to finance, underscores the task force's strategic approach to mobilizing collective expertise and resources.

Further discussions focused on institutionalizing UNTFSSE governance through a newly drafted Terms of Reference and preparation of the Secretary General’s report for the UNGA 79th session. The Secretariat is currently collecting inputs from UN Entities, Member States, and Financial Institutions.

Technical Working Groups are currently being established on SSE Statistics and Financing. These groups will be composed of technical experts who will establish work plans and present updates to the task force at regular meetings. Highlights of recent and upcoming initiatives were shared by task force Members and Observers, including:

ILO’s Regional Conference on the Social and Solidarity Economy for Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia on May 14-15, 2024.

OECD’s Global Action on Mapping of Social Economy Ecosystems.

UNRISD’s four podcast episodes, interviewing authors from the SSE Encyclopedia.

Social Economy Europe’s EU Large Scale partnership for Skills of SE and Proximity Ecosystem.

DIESIS event on the Social Economy in the Western Balkans under the MESMER+ project.

CIRIEC Call for papers for a Special Issue of APCE on “Gender approaches of Social Economy and State-Owned Enterprises”.

EUCLID’s Women in Social Enterprise initiative.

Ms. Esim proposed to hold an online event to mark the occasion of the first year anniversary of the UN General Assembly resolution “Promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy for Sustainable Development” on April 18, 2024. She suggested this would be an occasion to highlight progress that has been made in the one year since the adoption of the resolution at the international and regional levels. Her proposal was well received by Members and Observers of the Task Force. It was agreed that the webinar would take place on April 18, 2024 from 1:30 – 2:45 pm CEST with presentations followed by a brief discussion. The ILO offered to make simultaneous translation available for the event in English, French and Spanish. The UNTFSSE Members and observers agreed to share the announcement and the Zoom link for the event widely.

Led by the Co-Chairs of the UNTFSSE, Simel Esim from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Chantal Line Carpentier from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the virtual gathering brought together representatives from Members (UN Entities and the OECD) and Observer organizations to share international and regional updates to spur further collaboration on the SSE.

The call began with a welcome to the representatives of new Members, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) as an Observer.

Heidi Christ, lead of Made51 at UNHCR, expressed recommitment towards the task force, noting that, “Livelihoods for refugees is of primary concern to UNHCR, especially as the the refugee crisis deepens and longer-term solutions are needed. We are looking at the solidarity economy as way to offer solutions to refugees in a more protective environment”.

Leida Rijnhout, Chief Executive, WFTO, was appreciative of the positive response received from Members and Observers regarding their joining the task force. She highlighted the link between the SSE and the Fair Trade movement, sharing that “At the WFTO, we certify enterprises based on the fair trade principles. We are also a movement of entrepreneurial activists that promote people and planet over profit.”

Following introductions and general updates, the Co-Chairs presented the new UNTFSSE Action Plan, which details priorities and responsibilities for advancing the SSE agenda and implementing the UNGA Resolution A/RES/77/281. This plan, designed to foster policy coherence, drive capacity building, improve statistics, and increase access to finance, underscores the task force's strategic approach to mobilizing collective expertise and resources.

Further discussions focused on institutionalizing UNTFSSE governance through a newly drafted Terms of Reference and preparation of the Secretary General’s report for the UNGA 79th session. The Secretariat is currently collecting inputs from UN Entities, Member States, and Financial Institutions.

Technical Working Groups are currently being established on SSE Statistics and Financing. These groups will be composed of technical experts who will establish work plans and present updates to the task force at regular meetings. Highlights of recent and upcoming initiatives were shared by task force Members and Observers, including:

ILO’s Regional Conference on the Social and Solidarity Economy for Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia on May 14-15, 2024.

OECD’s Global Action on Mapping of Social Economy Ecosystems.

UNRISD’s four podcast episodes, interviewing authors from the SSE Encyclopedia.

Social Economy Europe’s EU Large Scale partnership for Skills of SE and Proximity Ecosystem.

DIESIS event on the Social Economy in the Western Balkans under the MESMER+ project.

CIRIEC Call for papers for a Special Issue of APCE on “Gender approaches of Social Economy and State-Owned Enterprises”.

EUCLID’s Women in Social Enterprise initiative.

Skytalk: Aviation Security Capacity-Building - ICAO Security Week 2023: AVSEC & CYBERSEC Skytalks - ICAO TV

David Sterland, Chief, Implementation Support and Development - Security, International Civil Aviation Organization

Encourage and support the timely deployment of innovative technologies, processes and capacity-building activities based on operational needs;

How is air quality measured?

According to a 2021 report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), air quality monitoring is not a legal requirement in 37% of countries, and experts are concerned about the rigor of supervision in many others. “Air quality monitoring and seamless access to data through platforms such as the Global Environment Situation Room, are essential for humanity, as they help us to understand how…

21 UN entities and members of the UN Interagency Mechanism on South-South and Triangular Cooperation contributed, along with 73 other stakeholders from both the Global South and North. Under the new Framework, UNOSSC will perform five services, each with key measurable indicators:

Intergovernmental processes facilitation and reporting;

Capacity development;

Knowledge management and sharing;

South-South and triangular cooperation solution lab

Trust Fund management.

These services will support the achievement of three cross-cutting, impact-oriented and coherent outcomes:

Outcome 1: Policies to advance South-South and triangular cooperation are strengthened through effective, evidence-based support to intergovernmental processes, multi-stakeholder dialogues and reporting.

Outcome 2: The capacity of United Nations entities to respond to requests by developing countries to address specific development challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda through South-South and triangular cooperation is strengthened.

Outcome 3: Developing countries are enabled to implement the 2030 Agenda through harnessing South-South and triangular cooperation knowledge exchange, capacity-building, and facilitation of technology development and transfer.

To ensure efficient delivery of these services, the Office will also further enhance its strategic communications and partnerships, as well as its results-based management efforts.

Eyeing China, India to engage African nations for defence ties biennially

File Photo: India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh chairing the India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave in Lucknow during DefExpo-2020 in Feb. 2020. New Delhi: In an effort to blunt China‘s huge influence and forays into the African continent, India has decided to engage with defence ministers of African nation in an institutionalised biennial dialogue during the DefExpo event. The first-ever…