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UNDP WS ClevelandThomasITU

Committed to Connecting the World, the document summarizes the Caribbean experience with digital transformation and identifies challenges and recommendations. It finds that while some countries like Barbados have advanced digital strategies aligned with national visions, most Caribbean countries face challenges like split ICT responsibilities, lack of continuity after elections, limited data and budgets, and minimum technical capacity. Key recommendations include gaining high-level support, establishing a full-time implementation unit, ensuring resources, taking a phased approach, collaborating widely, delivering results to improve people's lives, GDP, and security.

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38 views10 pages

UNDP WS ClevelandThomasITU

Committed to Connecting the World, the document summarizes the Caribbean experience with digital transformation and identifies challenges and recommendations. It finds that while some countries like Barbados have advanced digital strategies aligned with national visions, most Caribbean countries face challenges like split ICT responsibilities, lack of continuity after elections, limited data and budgets, and minimum technical capacity. Key recommendations include gaining high-level support, establishing a full-time implementation unit, ensuring resources, taking a phased approach, collaborating widely, delivering results to improve people's lives, GDP, and security.

Uploaded by

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Committed to Connecting the World

Together for a Digital


Pacific

The
Caribbean Experience

by Cleveland Thomas
Area Representative For
ITU Area Office for the Caribbean
Cleveland.Thomas@itu.int

February 2017
Together for a Digital
Pacific Conference

The
Caribbean Regional
Experience
Regional Challenges in Genera
Macroeconomic Low Productivity &
Competitiveness
• Jamaica is the 70th country in the WB Ease
Low growth of Doing Business Index– highest BMC
average 0.4% over a decade
• Large infrastructure gaps Weak
High debt governance
regional median 65% of GDP
• Inefficient and costly transport links and high
Low commodity prices and energy costs
declining reserves

Poor Human Development Environmental Threats

High poverty (43.7%) and youth • High annual natural disaster costs
unemployment (18-47%)
• Low insurance payouts
Poor education outcomes, skills
mismatch and brain drain • Insufficient building codes

High crime and citizen insecurity • Poor climate change adaptation tools
Highest Ranking Countries –
the Americas IDI 2017
Regional IDI Global IDI Rank
Rank IDI
Economy

1 United States 8.18 16

2 Canada 7.77 29

3 Barbados 7.31 34

4 St. Kitts and Nevis 7.24 37


Source: ITU.

5 Uruguay 7.16 42
IDI 2017 values – Caribbean
Caribbean IDI Rank Economy IDI Regional IDI Rank Global IDI Ran

1 Barbados 7.31 3 34

2 St. Kitts and Nevis 7.24 4 37

3 Bahamas 6.51 8 57

4 Trinidad and Tobago 6.04 11 68

5 Grenada 5.80 12 73

6 Antigua and Barbuda 5.71 13 76

7 Commonwealth of Dominica 5.69 14 77

8 St. Vincent and The Grenadines 5.54 15 82

9 Suriname 5.15 19 88

10 Jamaica 4.84 23 98

11 St. Lucia 4.63 24 104

12 Belize 3.71 29 ITU.


Source: 120

13 Guyana 3.44 30 124

14 Haiti 1.72 35 168


The Caribbean Digital Transformation Approach
• Determined the importance of ICTs for the country or region.
• Established the interconnectedness to the country’s mission, vision or strategic
goals, Examples:
1. Trinidad and Tobago – Vision 2030 (to be a developed country by 2030)
2. Bahamas – Vision 2040 (will provide a roadmap for the future development of The
Bahamas.)
3. Barbados - a fully developed society that is prosperous, socially just and globally
competitive”
• Adopted a highly consultative approach: NGOs, private sector, all government
ministries, agencies and public sectors.
• Methodology:
Plan
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5

•Project Plan •Strategic •Small group


•Project Kick •Current State Outcomes and consultations
•Report Writing
Off Analysis Priorities •Panel
•Presentation
•Stakeholder •Performance Reviews
of Report
Interviews, Measurement •Public
Framework •Project Signed
focus group Off Consultation
discussions
and surveys Consult
The Caribbean Digital Transformation Approach
• Focus:
• Phase 1- Dev National strategy
• Phase 2 – Focus on Network Connectivity and Sustainability
• Phase 3 – Focus on Uptake and usage
• Phase 4 – Encourage Innovation, diversification etc
• Phase 5 - Envisioned ICT and related sectors as significant contributors to GDP.

• Establish National ICT Implementation Co or Department or Unit

• Key Ministries:
• Prime Minister Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Tourism
Attorney General Office, National Security Ministry, Public Transformation Ministry
and Ministry of Education.
• Enablers :
• National Telecommunications Policy
• National Telecommunications Legislations (Act)
• National Telecommunications Regulations
• Governance structure – lead by a senior government official
• Measurement Unit
• Promotion and awareness
• Establishment of the “Business roundtable”
Challenges - The Caribbean Digital Transformatio
• ICT and Telcoms responsibilities split among 2 + ministries.
• Changes in Government from general elections do not guarante
continuity of plans and programmes.
• Lack of current data to help guide decisions– Central statistical
office ill equipped.
• Insufficient collaboration with the private sector and other non
government agencies.
• Limited or no budget.
• Minimum technical capacity – same persons in government
handling a number of other public service issues
• Trade unions unwillingness to adopt to the new ICT
developments.
• Inter-ministerial lack of cooperation.
Recommendations
•Get highest office support.
•Establish fulltime implm’t unit.
•Ensure resources are available.
•Phased approach.
•Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate.
•Deliver, Deliver, Deliver.
•Results: Happy people, higher GDP
and improved security.

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