Designing policies for inclusive digital economies

November 3, 202114:00 - 16:00Bangkok Time (GMT+7)

An opportunity to share your policy experiences in promoting inclusive digital economies. This session will go into the crucial objective of digital inclusion, and the challenges and opportunities policymakers face to expand the frontiers of digital inclusion.

At this two-hour policy exchange on designing policies for inclusive digital economies, we will discuss inclusive economy strategies and focus on the inclusive dimensions of digital economy strategies.

You will have the opportunity to share your own experiences and learn from other policymakers about how to introduce an inclusive lens in the process of formulating and in the objectives of a digital economy strategy; as well as identifying the challenges governments face to promote inclusive digital strategies, and possible opportunities to address these challenges.

14:00 – 14:18

Opening

Scene-setting and Meet & Greet between participants

Opening remarks by Jonathan Wong, Chief, Technology and Innovation Section, ESCAP

14:18 – 14:48

The impact & the challenges

Interview-based panel discussion with policy experts about why inclusion matters and how to make a case for inclusion within policy making.

Elizabeth Stuart, Executive Director at Digital Pathways at Oxford

Maria Perdomo, Regional Manager for Asia – Inclusive Digital Economies at UNCDF

Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor at UNDP/Government of Bangladesh

Tengis Sukhee, Head of Secretariat of the National Digital Development Committee of the Mongolian Government

14:58 – 15:23

Breakout discussions

In breakout groups, panelists will facilitate a conversation about digital inclusion. There will be an opportunity for participants to share some of the digital inclusion gaps they are looking to close, and speak about approaches they are already applying.

15:23 – 15:55

Getting started

A synthesis of discussions followed by a panel discussion and share out about the steps the panelists have accomplished to create digital inclusion interventions in their sector.

15:55 – 16:00

Closing remarks and end of Session 1