The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), based in Geneva, together with the Nigerien National Agency for the Information Society (ANSI), have launched "Building Smart Villages: A Blueprint". This tool will contribute to the construction of smart villages, the idea of which was developed according to the Niger project "Niger 2.0 Smart villages". This project aims to provide internet access in rural and remote areas of the country to enable access to digital services. The integration of digital technologies will serve as a catalyst to ensure equitable and quality services linked to sustainable development objectives.
This tool is based on lessons learned from the experiences of setting up, managing and sustaining similar projects in different parts of the world, including the Niger Smart Villages project, and will guide, step by step, on how to establish, manage, and run an intelligent village for a sustainable development project.
The unprecedented global pandemic of COVID-19 highlighted the vital importance of digital networks and services for economic resilience and the continuity of essential public services such as education and health care.
For several years now, the ANSI had the ambition to improve the lives of people in rural Niger, achieving a breakthrough by improving health and education and other targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In March 2018, Mr. Ibrahima Guimba Saidou, Minister Special Adviser to the President of Niger and Director-General of the ANSI, arrived in Geneva. As the lead for this ambitious project, the Minister was seeking guidance on key topics such as digital transformation and connectivity. The expertise and knowledge of the International Geneva ecosystem presented an ideal opportunity for Niger to develop its meaningful inclusivity plan.
After discussions with the representatives from Niger, the SDG Lab facilitated bilateral meetings, moderated brainstorming sessions and introduced ANSI’s project to a set of experts from different international organizations in Geneva. The interactions focused on providing ideas and potential resources to the Minister in pursuit of the government’s ambitious vision.
A one-day workshop, co-convened and facilitated by the SDG Lab and Impact Hub, enabled the sharing of experiences and ideas on how to accelerate the Smart Villages project. More than 20 actors from the Geneva 2030 Ecosystem joined the workshop, bringing different expertise areas relevant to the project.
“Through the SDG Lab’s convening and connecting power, Niger had access to the unique International Geneva ecosystem. In just a few days, we were able to leverage the ecosystem’s technical and policy expertise to accelerate our project ‘Niger 2.0’: attaining the SDGs through ICTs,” said Mr Guimba Saidou.
Among the organizations that were engaged in supporting ANSI back in 2018 was the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Sharing Niger’s example
Today, two years later, the Niger National Agency for the Information Society and ITU are launching “Building Smart Villages: A Blueprint”. This pilot aims to share Niger’s recent experiences in bringing meaningful connectivity and digital transformation to its disadvantaged rural communities with other low and middle-income countries.
The ITU and ANSI held a webinar on June 25, 2020 to present the project and to encourage the sharing of experiences and good practices. Experts from partner organizations exchanged insights, resources and perspectives on the importance of connecting rural areas to advance the delivery of the SDGs.
Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, opened the session by highlighting the urgent need to bring meaningful connectivity to people in rural areas.
This point was echoed by Mr. Guimba Saidou who presented the particular situation of Niger’s population. Niger is unique because it is the only country that has an estimated 6 to 7 percent of its population living in its capital city. Overall, just 20 percent of the Nigerien population lives in urban areas, making service delivery in rural areas extremely high.
Mr. Abdul Halim Iskandar, Indonesia’s Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration, presented the opportunities in implementing smart SDG villages in his country.
Mr. Anang Latif, Chief Executive Officer of BAKTI KOMINFO, also of Indonesia, gave another overview of Smart Villages. Areas covered by the initiative are gaining in terms of mobility, information systems, and health and education coverage, all thanks to the reinforced connectivity of communities.
Ms. Tara Sharafudheen from the World Bank spoke to the importance of financing Smart Villages, whereas Mr. Maximo Torero of FAO drew attention to the role of smart villages in efforts to eliminate poverty and hunger.
Other key interventions included a statement by Ms. Kate Wilson from DIAL who highlighted a whole-of-government approach for digital investments and by Mr. Sibesh Bhattacharya of the Asian Development Bank on how rural connectivity helps foster inclusive development.
At the end of the session, the speakers noted that in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, people living in rural communities remain vulnerable and are particularly exposed because of the socio-economic impacts of the disease.
“The issue of digital empowerment of rural communities is more important than ever,” underscored Ms. Bogdan-Martin of the ITU.
The full video of the session is available here.
