Session
Organizer 1: Private Sector, African Group
Organizer 2: Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 1: Kara Whitman , Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 2: Niccole Rogers, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Christelle Mombo-Zigah, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Mirza Baig, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Niccole Rogers, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Christelle Mombo-Zigah, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Mirza Baig, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: We want to present the topic in an engaging manner that allows participants to see one another and solicits the most feedback and interaction.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: We want to present the topic in an engaging manner that allows participants to see one another and solicits the most feedback and interaction.
Policy Question(s)
Should public funds be utilized to increase access to the internet, digital skills and artificial intelligence? Are the recipients of these public funds receiving welfare, entitlements or economic investments? Could these funds be secured from foundations and private sector partners in order to preserve access?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will understand what 1) gaps in universal access and digital rights have been created or made worse by recent funding declines, in the United States and globally and 2) how these gaps further complicate public perceptions about equality, deservingness and wealth.
SDGs
Description:
Since the United States President Donald Trump and his allies have ascended to power, they have used frames such as 'government efficiency' and 'merit' to drive spending decisions and as a result, rescinded US support for many high-profile initiatives including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs. They have also discontinued over 80% of projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development and framed its staff as 'crooked' people who waste public resources. This workshop seeks to explore the concerns and implications of these negative frames and new funding declines for DEI and international development, particularly as it relates to universal access and digital rights for underserved and underrepresented groups.
Since the United States President Donald Trump and his allies have ascended to power, they have used frames such as 'government efficiency' and 'merit' to drive spending decisions and as a result, rescinded US support for many high-profile initiatives including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs. They have also discontinued over 80% of projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development and framed its staff as 'crooked' people who waste public resources. This workshop seeks to explore the concerns and implications of these negative frames and new funding declines for DEI and international development, particularly as it relates to universal access and digital rights for underserved and underrepresented groups.
Expected Outcomes
We will develop a report from the workshop and discussion with participants.
Hybrid Format: We will post these three questions to the participants in order to promote a lively discussion about the role of government in promoting universal access and digital rights, particularly for underserved and underrepresented groups.