An Arab Stakeholders Network has been officially launched following the two-day meeting of the United Nations Information and Communications Technology Task Force (UN ICT Task Force) held in Amman (Jordan) on 13 - 14 January 2002. The regional network will be headquartered in Jordan, in the offices of the Information Technology Association of Jordan (Int@j) in co-operation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). ‘The meeting emphasized the need to consolidate co-operation at the regional level in the field of ICTs in development activities’ read the Amman Statement, itemizing the outcomes of the event, ‘and ensuring the reflection of specific needs of the region in international activities.’
This is the first regional network of stakeholders to be established by the UN ICT Task Force. The Task Force is not an operational or implementing body itself. Rather, in implementing its Plan of Action (see UN ICT Task Force: Plan of Action), it is seeking to galvanize the efforts of partner organizations, and is currently engaged in establishing regional networks elsewhere, including: Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Europe and others. These networks will ‘build upon current and emerging initiatives, adding value by helping to scale up such efforts and fostering coordination and collaboration among all actors.’
The Amman Statement
A statement was issued at the launch of the Arab Stakeholders Network, the highlights of which are:
"The Meeting's objectives were to launch and develop the ICT policy and strategy, with multi-stakeholder participation, for the United Nation's ICT Network in the Arab region. The Arab Regional Network will provide region-specific support to and strengthening of the UN ICT Task Force in its activities to help bridge the Digital Divide.
Meeting decisions & recommendations
The meeting stressed the urgent need to strengthen region-wide collaboration in ICT-for development activities and to ensure adequate reflection of region's specifics in relevant international initiatives. In this regard the meeting agreed that the UN ICT Task Force presents an appropriate and effective forum for achieving these goals, and adopted the following recommendations:
- The announcement of the Arab Regional Network.
- To domicile the Arab Regional Network in Amman.
- To ask the permission of His Majesty King Abdullah II to accept the Honorary Chairmanship of the Network.
- The following appointments were elected:
- Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh as the Arab Network Chair.
- Mr. Karim Kawar as the Network Coordinator.
- Mr. Mustafa Nasereddin as the Network Secretary.
In addition, the following members to the transitional executive bureau were elected until September 2002:
- HE Dr. Fawaz Al-Zu'bi - Minister of Post & Communications, Jordan.
- HE Dr. Khaled Touqan - Minister of Education and Higher Education, Jordan.
- Mr. Amr S. Azzouz, Senior Regional Advisor, UNESCO, Cairo office.
- Dr. Sherif Hashem, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology Egypt.
- Mrs. Najat Rochdi, ICT Policy Advisor for Arab States UNDP - Bureau for Development Policy.
- Professor Izzeldin Osman, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan.
- Mr. Sam Bahour, Palestinian Information Technology association of Companies, Palestine.
- Mr. Jalal Fawaz, Chairman Professional Computer Association, Lebanon.
[lst]Mr. Gilbert Marc Lacroix, General Manager, Arab countries and Western Africa-intel.
- Dr. Mohammad Said Jazaerli, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Prime Ministry- Damascus, Syria.
- Mr. Ayman M. Adhair, Director - Electronic Government International Public Services - KPMG Consulting.
- Ms. Claudine Bichara De Oliveira, Latin America Network (Observer).
- To set-up a Secretariat headed by the Network Coordinator, Karim Kawar.
- To hold the first official meeting of the Network in Amman under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II during September 2002.
- To host the Secretariat of the Network at the offices of Information Technology Association of Jordan (Int@j) in collaboration with UNDP Office in Jordan.
- To request the elected Bureau to develop an action plan.
- To invite the UN ICT TF Work Group on Human Resources & Capacity Building. Chairman, Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, to hold one of its incoming meetings in Amman, Jordan.
10. To hold the next country strategy meeting in Rabat, Morocco during April 2002.
11. To recommend Mr. Sherif Hashem to represent the Arab Regional Network at the African Network.
12. To recommend Mr. Karim Kawar to represent the Arab Regional Network at the Latin American Network.
13. To recommend Mr. Rifad El-Farhan to represent the Arab Regional Network at the Asian Network.
Meeting participants
A large number of other senior officials from ministries and institutions, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions and experts in business, communications and electronic businesses from Jordan as well as governmental and private sector representatives from the Arab region and other countries attended and participated in the conference. International and Intergovernmental and funding agencies were also represented."
The meeting itself was held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II and under the invitation of the secretariat of the UN ICT Task Force, the Jordanian Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Int@j, and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International (TAGI).