Tuesday 26 April 2016: The global professional association for the ICT sector, IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing), will detail how its various initiatives are helping to progress the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at WSIS Forum 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland next month.

WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) Forum is the largest gathering each year of the ‘ICT for Development’ community, bringing together government ministers and policy-makers from 79 nations along with over 2,000 senior representatives from the private sector, civil society, academia and international ICT stakeholders.

IFIP, which is being recognised with a WSIS Champion Award at this year’s Forum for establishing the Global Industry Council to help drive standards in ICT professionalism and add social value for communities, is involved in a range of initiatives which seek to improve the quality life for all global citizens.

IFIP President, Leon Strous, will present a high level speech during the Opening Ceremony Session on Tuesday 3rd May while his colleague, Brenda Aynsley, who chairs IFIP’s International Professional Practice Partnership (IP3), will present about the contribution that trustworthy computing and professionalism make to capacity building and development.

IFIP and IP3 are also conducting three workshops during WSIS Forum 2016, on:

  • Monday 2nd May about IFIP’s activities – and in particular, the WITFOR event being held in Costa Rica in September this year – that are focused on progressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
  • Monday 2nd on Information Security in Developing Countries; and
  • Thursday 5th May entitled, “The Contribution IFIP IP3 Makes to WSIS IDGs, With an Emphasis on Providing Trustworthy ICT Infrastructure and Services’.

Jointly organised by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, WSIS seeks to coordinate the efforts of the hundreds of groups, organisations and governments engaged in progressing the WSIS Action Lines in support of the SDGs.

There are 17 SDGs ranging from No Poverty (1) and Quality Education (4) to Decent Work & Economic Growth (8), Sustainable Cities & Communities (11) and Partnerships for the Goals (17), organised along 11 Action Lines.  

Mr Strous said IFIP has a strong interest in driving progress on the SDGs. “As the global association for people working in ICT, we are committed to developing solutions to address skills shortages around the world as we explore how technology improving access to education and work opportunities, reducing poverty and improving economic growth in all developing countries,” he said.

“The WITFOR (World Information Technology Forum) event in Costa Rica in September specifically focuses on exploring ways to use technology to assist developing nations, bringing together policy-makers, researchers and ICT professionals to present ideas, share experiences and collaborate on projects.”

ENDS

About IP3
The International Professional Practice Partnership (IP3), a project of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), and is leading the development of the global IT profession by providing a platform that will help shape and implement relevant policies to foster professionalism in IT worldwide. Our mission is to establish a global partnership that will strengthen the IT profession and contribute to the development of strong international economies by: defining international standards of professionalism in IT; creating an infrastructure that will encourage and support the development of both IT practitioners and employer organizations, and give recognition to those who meet and maintain the required standards for knowledge, experience, competence and integrity. To carry out this mission, IP3 works closely with member bodies and partners who share our commitment to creating a sound global IT profession. www.ipthree.org

About IFIP
IFIP, the International Federation for Information Processing, is the global professional federation of societies and associations for people working in Information and Communications Technologies and Sciences. Established under the auspices of UNESCO in 1960 and recognised by the United Nations, IFIP represents ICT professional associations from more than 50 countries and regions with a total membership of over half a million. It also brings together more than 3,500 scientists from industry and academia, organising them into over 100 Working Groups and 13 Technical Committees to conduct research, develop standards and promote information sharing. Based in Austria, IFIP organises and supports over 100 conferences each year, fostering the distribution of research and knowledge to academics and industry practitioners alike.
Website: http://ifip.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ifipnews
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifip—international-federation-for-information-processing

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