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Multistakeholder approach holds key to addressing the digital skills gap challenge.
At the ITU Digital Skills Forum held from 17 to 19 September in Manama, Bahrain, technology leaders emphasized the urgent need to expand access to digital skills worldwide, ensuring that individuals can fully benefit from modern technologies. Under the theme “Developing Skills for Digital Transformation,” nearly 700 participants from 44 countries gathered to discuss strategies for equipping people with the skills necessary to thrive in a digital society.
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The event, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and hosted by Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), concluded with calls for collaboration, coordination, and partnerships to address the global digital skills gap. A highlight of the Forum was the launch of the ITU Digital Skills Toolkit 2024, designed to guide governments, policymakers, and stakeholders in creating effective national digital skills strategies.
Digital skills have the power to change lives
“Digital skills have the power to change lives,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General. “The Digital Skills Forum is central to ITU’s mission of closing the global digital skills gap, ensuring that everyone can thrive in an inclusive digital world.”
The “ITU Digital Skills Toolkit 2024” offers practical tools for policymakers, the private sector, NGOs, and academia to address the rapid technological advancements affecting jobs and skills. As global economies transform, the need for lifelong learning in areas like data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and programming has become essential for success in today’s digital economy.
Currently, an estimated 2.6 billion people remain offline, and many connected individuals lack basic digital literacy. The Forum underscored the importance of developing both basic and advanced digital skills to open up employment opportunities, reduce inequalities, and enhance cybersecurity.
Our goal is to ensure no one is left behind
“Our goal is to ensure no one is left behind in the digital transformation journey,” said Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. He highlighted the need for a multistakeholder approach and strong partnerships to drive digital education.
Partner UN agencies, including the International Labour Organization (ILO), shared insights on how emerging technologies and AI are reshaping the job market, emphasizing the necessity for continuous upskilling and reskilling to adapt to the future of work.
The Forum also provided a platform for young entrepreneurs to showcase innovations in digital education and safe use of technologies. It featured the annual ITU Academy Training Centres (ATC) meeting, where representatives discussed capacity development activities and successful partnerships to promote digital training globally.
The event concluded with the announcement of a EUR 4 million ‘Capacity Development for Digital Transformation‘ project between ITU, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the European Union (EU). The project, funded by the EU Global Gateway, aims to train policymakers and government officials on digital transformation through the ITU Academy, further supporting efforts to close the digital skills gap.
