COUNTRY FOCUS : CARIBBEAN
“ We know that small islands are naturally prone to disasters caused by earthquakes and severe weather events and are being affected by climate change , resulting in increased tropical cyclones , hurricanes , flood and landslides , to name a few ,” she said .
“ Connectivity can help address these events by providing remote communities with access to early warning systems , real-time weather information , remote sensing and geographic information systems .”
Ralf Bredel , Chief , Asia-Pacific Regional Programme , UNIDO , said that SIDS share common challenges such as limited resource bases , long distances to primary markets and vulnerability to climate change .
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization ( UNIDO ) has been implementing various programmes to address such issues , such as technical co-operation on waste management , building resilience to environmental shocks and industrial policy advice .
“ We have examples of successful interventions supporting , for example , e-commerce in different member states , but we would like to devise specific and scalable interventions in SIDS , including regional projects ,” said Bredel .
“ In fact , ICT has the potential to help SIDS in overcoming some of the challenges derived from the isolation and remoteness , it can support trade in economic diversification . This is even more true , under the current circumstances with Covid-19 and the current restrictions on people ' s movements and the heavy blow to SIDS ’ economies in their continued reliance on tourism .”
Michelle Marius , Founder and Publisher , ICT Pulse , said that informational gaps are a big problem for digitalization in the Caribbean , as well as insufficient policy attention on structural issues .
“ You almost have a situation where we ’ re just dealing with the most urgent matter , which would be the tip of the iceberg , but the major challenges are the bigger issues that you may not necessarily see , are not being given any or are given limited attention ,” she said .
“ And as a result , what we then have is a hodgepodge of programmes and initiatives that do not necessarily push us forward in any substantial or meaningful way .”
She criticised a lack of joined-up thinking at times , such as programmes to provide school children with tablets without addressing home Internet costs . Marius also highlighted a continuing gender gap concerning digital employment .
“ We do have so many girls and women in the workforce . Many of them , sometimes even in management positions in reputable organisations , but somehow we still have not been able to crack that barrier between women in tech and digital entrepreneurship by women ” she noted . p
ICT has the potential to help SIDS in overcoming some of the challenges derived from the isolation and remoteness , it can support trade in economic diversification .
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