Arab Horizon 2030: Digital Technologies for Development

The study entitled Arab Horizon 2030: Digital Technologies for Development is a central part of ESCWA efforts to promote radical policy changes towards utilizing digital technologies for sustainable development in Arab countries. It sets out proposals and recommendations for harnessing these technologies for social, economic and human development opportunities. The following seven thematic policy areas relevant to digital technologies are identified: digital strategies; information and communication technology (ICT) sector; ICT infrastructure; cybersecurity; the digital divide; e-applications; and e-government. The study addresses these policy areas by analysing the intersection of the 10-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the 2030 Agenda.

Taking a common approach for each of the identified thematic policy areas in digital technology, the study proposes an analysis organized under four sectionas: (1) Contextualization of the thematic issues with respect to their impact on the SDGs; (2) Situation of Arab countries in the context of the prevailing policies, measuring the gap with respect to more advanced countries, and setting some future implications; (3) Outlining a Horizon 2030 vision and policy change recommendations for the better fulfilment of the SDGs; and (4) Laying out a business-as-usual trajectory and one that takes into consideration the horizon 2030.  It concludes with a summary of the Horizon 2030 vision and provides a blueprint of policy recommendations for each of the seven policy areas discussed in this document.

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