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Roundtable on Globalization and Human Development:
Information and Communication Technology for Human Development in Lebanon
The UN House, 13 July 2001
Background Note
The 2000 National Human Development Report, theme Globalization and Human Development, will be published in a few months time. The publication of the report is part of a process that aims to raise awareness about the subject and issues involved and to promote national initiatives and action to bring about change for people-centered development.
As part of this process, a Roundtable on globalization and human development: Information and Communication Technology for Human Development in Lebanon will be organized at The UN House, B1 Committee Room 1 on Friday 13 July from 10h00 till 12h30. Discussion will take place preferably in English, and in Arabic.
The objective of the roundtable
The objective of the roundtable aims to contribute to awareness raising and to initiate consensus building on the major threats and salient opportunities of globalization for the country - and how they can be addressed. Globalization creates extraordinary opportunities that can be realized on the strength of key national assets and enlightened policy-making. It also generates threats that can easily wreck the economy and destabilize society. The specific focus will be on the potential of information and communication technology.
Format/organization of the roundtable
- Welcome: Mr. Yves de San, UNDP Resident Representative
- Introduction by the Moderator: Mr. Nicholas Chammas (5 minutes)
- Discussants (each 7-10 minutes).
- Mr. Tony Issa (e-policy and legislation)
- PCA representative (e-readiness and the digital divide)
- Mr. Salim Balaa (e-government)
- Debate (approximately two hours). Each intervention will be limited to 3 minutes. Participants wishing to speak will indicate so in writing. Possibility to submit views in writing during and after the meeting (see below).
- Closing remarks: roundup of the debate by the moderator.
- Timekeeper (one of the participants).
- Record. A note will be prepared as record of the meeting (UNDP/CDR) (maximum 3-5 pages).
- UNDP as organizer will promote national ownership of the process.
Theme
The roundtable will be an open discussion that will be steered by the moderator: the focus will be on identifying the main implications of global technological trends and related change processes as they affect human development in Lebanon.
Globalization offers great opportunities for human advance - but only with stronger governance. Global technology can enrich the lives of people everywhere, greatly expanding their choices through shared values and a shared commitment to the human development of all people. The challenge of today's globalization is not to stop the expansion of global markets and global technology. The challenge is to find the rules and institutions for stronger governance at different levels to preserve the advantages of global markets and competition, but also to provide enough space for human, community and environmental resources to ensure that globalization works for people - not just for profits.
With the costs of communications plummeting and innovative tools easier to use, people around the world have burst into conversation. The Internet is the fastest growing communications tool ever; expected users will number up to 700 million this year. Communications networks can foster great advances in health and education; they can also empower small players. Barriers of size, time and distant are coming down for small businesses, for governments of poor countries, for remote academics and specialists. ICT can also open a fast track to knowledge-based growth (India's software exports, Ireland's computing services, Eastern Caribbean's data processing). Despite the potential for development, the Internet poses severe problems of access and exclusion. Poor people and poor countries risk being pushed to the margin in this proprietary regime controlling the world's knowledge. This risk of marginalization does not have to be a reason for despair. It should be a call to action.
Participants
About 25 participants are expected to join in the debate (national development specialists and key stakeholders of development from the Government, Parliament, civil society - NGOs, trade unions and professional associations, academia and research institutions - the private sector, media, and UN organizations). Participation in the meeting is in personal capacity.
UNDP web site
A sub-page on Advocacy for Sustainable Human Development introduces the NHDR process. It outlines the objectives and content of this year's report and the consultative process. It provides the opportunity to express views and contribute through feedback. The results from the different roundtables will be posted on the sub-page.
4 July 2001
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Lebanon
