The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) initiative to support global efforts to detect and act on major methane emissions sources. Established as part of UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory strategy, MARS is a satellite-based system designed to detect emissions of methane and alert governments, companies, and operators so they can take rapid mitigation action.
Sustainable development
Survey finds farmers need more government support to increase the use of digital agriculture tools
Findings of the ‘Farmers and Digitalisation’ survey reveal that there is already intensive use of digital technologies on farms to reduce fertiliser use, optimise water use, and improve soil health. Although farmers are willing to continue to invest in digital tools, they face a number of barriers to doing so, mainly related to the cost and availability of devices and lack of connectivity.
In the view of farmers, greater government support is needed to promote the digitisation of farms and overcome these barriers. Support is not limited to increasing access to the internet, but also involves providing training and capacity development, as well as subsidies and inventions for the adoption of digital solutions.
The survey conducted by Savanta ComRes and commissioned by Vodafone Group interviewed farmers from 13 countries in Europe and Africa about their perspectives on digital farming, environmental challenges, and current geopolitical and socio-economic pressures.
UNICEF releases child-centered digital framework to address inequalities in children’s lives
Given that digital exclusion mirrors and magnifies existing social, cultural, and economic inequities and pushes vulnerable children closer to the edges of marginalisation, the digital transformation of society has an uneven consequence on all children. To address the effects of the shifting digital and governance landscape, as well as emerging and embedded technologies, on children’s experience with digital technologies, a future-oriented framework for an equitable digital future was proposed by UNICEF. The framework highlights the need to move from digital inclusion to digital equality.
The framework can be used as a foundation for developing and evaluating digital inclusion policies, as a roadmap for structuring the involvement of pertinent stakeholders in achieving digital equality for children, and as a tool to assist in the design of policies and interventions by state authorities, civic groups, and the private sector. For this framework to effectively respond to new trends and technologies, a wider range of stakeholders must be engaged in its implementation.
Geneva Foundation for Technology Innovation
For over three decades, FONGIT has been de-risking the entrepreneurial journey and supporting entrepreneurs with the expertise, resources, and financing they need to transform innovative ideas into sustainable companies.
FONGIT is a private, nonprofit foundation, benefiting from the support of the State of Geneva.
Digital activities
FONGIT’s mission is to transform innovation into social and economic value in the Geneva region. The foundation currently supports over 250 innovative early-stage ventures by providing financing, targeted coaching, fully equipped offices and labs, administration, legal help and accounting, and a vibrant community.
Digital policy issues
Digital economy
Through its activities dedicated to supporting innovative startups, FONGIT contributes to the growth of the digital economy. For more than three decades, entrepreneurs supported by the Foundation have developed companies in areas such as information and communications technology (ICT), advanced engineering, and life sciences.
We offer two programmes optimised to support innovations at different stages of maturity – Initiation Innovation and Startup Support.
- Initiation Innovation is designed for early-stage projects that need shaping and de-risking before deciding to launch the startup.
- Our Startup Support programme is for more advanced innovative projects where the company is ready for foundation, or is already founded, and has a full pitch deck and an engaged team.
In evaluating projects for our support programmes, we take a comprehensive look at the novelty, potential, and maturity of each venture. We are proud to support innovative ideas and startups that have the potential to make a positive impact on society, furthering the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
If projects are looking mainly for funding, the FIF (FONGIT Innovation Fund) provides three different types of financing for Geneva-based technological innovations that have a positive impact on people and the planet. The FIF aims to accelerate innovation processes within Universities, Hautes Écoles, and other Geneva-based research institutions, within startups, scale-ups, and SMEs experiencing rapid growth in the technological environment. The Fund is supported by the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the Fondation Modus, the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Sustainable development
All FONGIT-supported startups are required to ensure that their work directly or indirectly contributes to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). FONGIT collaborates closely with UNEP and ITC to assess and highlight the impact of its startups on the SDGs.
Interdisciplinary approaches
As an innovation leader, FONGIT has recognised the increasing integration of seemingly unrelated technologies, prompting a move towards tech convergence. This trend is notably advanced in the life sciences domain, where addressing medical challenges involves multidisciplinary interactions across technologies like ICT, hardware, physics, and medical expertise. The acceleration in Geneva’s innovation landscape began several years ago when the State of Geneva made the decision to put innovation at the centre of its development strategy. This has led to enhanced collaboration among entrepreneurs, facilitated by communal spaces, fostering the exchange of ideas that benefit various sectors.
In the next few years, our goal is to promote the development of the startup ecosystem in Geneva by increasing both their quantity and quality to reach the level of the most advanced Swiss hubs. A key element of this development will be fostering the life sciences ecosystem, centred around the Campus Biotech. Our ambition is to actively participate in transforming Geneva into a major hub of innovation in different domains.
United Nations Office at Geneva
Housed at the Palais des Nations, UN Geneva (UNOG) serves as the representative office of the UN Secretary-General at Geneva. A focal point for multilateral diplomacy, UN Geneva serviced more than 8,500 meetings in 2024, making it one of the busiest conference centres in the world. With more than 1,600 staff, UN Geneva is the most prominent duty station of the UN Secretariat outside the UN headquarters in New York.
Digital activities
UN Geneva hosts many meetings and processes related to disarmament, human rights, e-commerce, health, labour, development, and other areas. In addition to these meetings, UN Geneva also hosts several thematic cultural activities and organises the Ciné ONU project, which uses films to shine a light on the UN’s work on gender equality, human rights, humanitarian aid, health, peace and reconciliation, and many other issues.
Digital policy issues
Sustainable development
Led by UN Geneva, the BeyondLab is a multistakeholder innovation space for the SDGs that inspires and promotes system change through new lenses to long-term sustainability. An example of a concrete initiative is the Geneva SDG Data Forum, launched in 2022 in partnership with the Geneva Graduate Institute and Deloitte Switzerland. The Geneva SDG Data Forum acts as an informal platform for individuals and organisations to share SDG data knowledge through a series of hands-on ateliers on data, monitoring, and accountability.
The Beyond Lab also played a key role in the inception of the GESDA Open Quantum Institute (OQI) through its function as an OQI advisory board member, offering guidance and insights into potential case studies and applications of quantum technologies for the SDGs and long-term sustainability.
Other examples of initiatives launched or supported by UN Geneva in the area of sustainable development include SDG Acceleration Actions, an initiative dedicated to mobilising Geneva-based actors, working to make SDGs a reality, and Building Bridges Week, dedicated to creating an international movement for sustainable finance.
In addition, the International Geneva Perception Change project – managed by a team of the Office of UN Geneva’s Director-General – has among its four areas of work the promotion of the SDGs. SDG Mapping, for instance, showcases who does what in Geneva towards the global goals. The other three areas are related to making information accessible, changing the narratives, and promoting the work of Geneva-based organisations.
Capacity development
The UN Library & Archives Geneva serves as a space for knowledge and learning. It facilitates knowledge exchanges, encourages innovation and collaboration, and acts as a centre for research on multilateralism.
The library provides access to a diverse set of resources (books, articles, UN documents, etc.) on digital-related topics such as economy, trade, human rights, and peace and security. It also facilitates access to numerous databases (maintained by various UN entities) such as the UN Digital Library.
The library coordinates the UN Knowledge and Learning Commons, together with the Centre for Learning and Multilingualism. The Commons hosts activities and learning experiences on various subjects, including some with a digital dimension, such as technology and innovation, information literacy, hybrid meetings, digital accessibility, and multilingualism.
Several online reference services are available for users of the UN Library & Archives Geneva, for example, ask a librarian, databases and e-journals, and catalogues and online requests.
The Conference Primers platform gives rapid access to all conference summaries and to key decisions taken at meetings held at UN Geneva. It continues to grow, with advice from experts, contributions from partners, and research led by the UN Library & Archives Geneva.
In 2022, the Library & Archives also completed a major five-year project to provide online access to the entire original archives of the League of Nations between 1919 and 1946: The Total Digital Access to the League of Nations Archives Project (LONTAD). As a result, nearly 15 million pages of materials are now available online, free of charge. Thanks to this project, every person connected to the internet now has an opportunity to consult various documents of the League of Nations online.
The UN Geneva’s podcasts reinforce the organisation’s outreach efforts, spotlighting issues, and bringing the key messages of the UN to another platform. Scripted, recorded, and edited at the Palais des Nations, the English-language podcast UN Catch-up Dateline Geneva and the French-language podcast ONU Info Genève offer up the week’s biggest stories from International Geneva, including from UN agencies and their partners. The podcasts are available weekly via social media platforms and UN News.
Digital tools and initiatives
Geneva has been traditionally strong on peace initiatives. It is often regarded as a city of choice for mediators and special envoys because it provides a neutral, discreet, secure space for dialogue. Many peace talks, and conflict prevention and mediation efforts are hosted at the Palais des Nations.
Digital Mediation Toolkit 1.0, developed by the UN and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in 2019, assesses opportunities and risks associated with the use of digital technologies in the mediation context and provides concrete examples and advice from experts and practitioners. The digital technologies and tools currently used by mediators include social media, geographic information systems (GIS), and data analytics.
Cyber Hygiene and Digital Risk Management E-Learning Platform for Mediators is a tool developed to raise awareness of the digital risks that mediation practitioners encounter and build the capacity needed to mitigate and manage them.
Mandate Review and Management System (MRMS), a tool used by UN Secretariat entities to support the decision-making of the member states. Each year, over 100 complex oral statements of programme budget implications can emanate from draft resolutions and decisions of the Human Rights Council, the intergovernmental body of the UN system which is headquartered in Geneva. The MRMS greatly promotes efficiency and transparency and enhances real-time collaboration in the creation of oral statements, archiving of data, and the overall workflow of this process.
UNTERM is a multilingual terminology database maintained jointly by the UN Secretariat and certain specialised agencies of the UN system, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), UNESCO, WHO, and WMO. UNTERM provides terminology and nomenclature in subjects relevant to the work of the UN system. Information is provided in the six UN official languages, and there are also entries in German and Portuguese. This database is a linguistic tool created primarily to facilitate the work of the staff of the UN system and other people around the world who participate or are interested in the organisation’s activities.
Conferencing technologies
UN Geneva provides a key international dialogue and diplomacy platform. The Division of Conference Management (DCM) facilitates these discussions and conferences by providing high-quality services (logistically and substantively) for UN agencies, international organisations, and highly sensitive political negotiations. You can find all the information about meetings and events on UN Geneva’s meeting and events calendar.
UN Geneva’s Fully Automated Speech-to-Text (FAST) project generates conference transcripts with the help of AI. Since the launch of the English version in 2019, FAST has scaled up to process thousands of hours of recordings per year, covering meetings for 40 UN entities. In 2022, UN Geneva rolled out French and Spanish transcription, with support from the International Organization of la Francophonie. The FAST project team has been collaborating with the machine learning researchers at WIPO to improve the latter’s proprietary speech recognition models on thousands of hours worth of UN Geneva’s training data in six languages. Thanks to the common pool of data shared by ILO, ITU, WIPO, WTO, and other international organisations, the retrained speech-to-text instances have become more relevant to, and accurate for, the conferencing environment and multilingual international speakers. The resulting raw transcripts are an essential building block for deploying further text analysis services underpinned by extractive or generative AI.
The Digital Recordings Portal is the online repository for all meetings recorded at the Palais des Nations and Palais Wilson. It is available in English and French, and the interface is compatible with standard accessibility tools and controllable via keyboard navigation. Since its update in 2022, meeting transcripts are generated in English, French, and Spanish and uploaded to the portal completely automatically. This allows those with hearing impairments to readily access the content of meetings held at UN Geneva. The portal also serves as a crucial tool for reporting on meeting outcomes. In 2022, more than 2,800 meetings were recorded and published on the portal, most of them in multiple languages.
With approximately 700,000 users across the globe, Indico.UN is the UN’s standard solution for participant management. The software establishes a web-based workflow, covering the creation of the event page and set-up of the registration form, participants registration, registration vetting, as well as badging and check-in activities. The system also has a series of elements related to the dissemination of information and documents, event statistics, timeline management, and accreditation of users in need of long-term badges. Indico.UN is a modular system, very easy to customise by the users of the UN system organisations.
The Extra-budgetary Cost Calculator is a financial planning tool that enables extra-budgetary conferencing clients to generate unofficial cost estimates on a self-service basis. Users can run multiple scenarios to match their available budgets by selecting which services to include or exclude, altering the duration of meetings/conferences and/or the requirements for meeting services and seeing the associated cost impact. The calculator includes costs for services provided by DCM (e.g. interpretation, documentation, and accessibility services), the Division of Administration (e.g. sound and audio-recording operators, technicians, mechanics, IT support), UN Library & Archives Geneva (e.g. cultural events), and the UN International School (UNIS) (e.g. webcasting).hives Geneva (e.g. cultural events), and the UN International School (UNIS) (e.g. webcasting).
Social media channels
Facebook @UN Geneva
Flickr @UN Geneva
Instagram @ungeneva
Linkedin @ungeneva
X @UNGeneva
YouTube @UN Geneva
Datasphere Initiative Foundation
The Datasphere Initiative is a think and do tank that catalyses meaningful dialogues and co-creates actionable and innovative approaches to respond to specific data challenges and opportunities across borders. Our mission is to equip organisations to responsibly unlock the value of data for all.
By connecting and amplifying voices from various sectors, we aim to responsibly unlock the value of data for all with various key programmes and projects that foster multistakeholder collaboration. Our latest work focuses primarily on digital access, data governance, and capacity development at various levels: global, regional, and youth.
Digital policy issues
Data governance
One of the key programmes of the Datasphere Initiative is the Global Sandboxes Forum. The Global Sandboxes Forum (GSF) is a collaborative platform that brings together public authorities, private sector entities, and civil society to explore and implement sandbox approaches for addressing digital age challenges. It focuses on sharing experiences, building capacity, and developing evidence-based guidance to empower stakeholders in creating agile, responsible data governance solutions at the local, national, and regional levels. Through its activities, the GSF aims to unlock the value of data for societal and environmental benefit. The latest publication, Sandboxes for AI: Tools for a new frontier, explores the role of sandboxes in the development and governance of artificial intelligence (AI).
Looking into specific regions, the initiative has launched the Africa Sandboxes Forum, a pan-African community aimed at enabling innovative cross-border data governance solutions. This multistakeholder process invites local, regional, and global experts to explore how regulatory and operational sandboxes can facilitate responsible data flows and exchanges, addressing challenges in sectors such as health, finance, sustainability, and AI across the continent. The latest publication, Africa Sandboxes Outlook: Thinking outside the box for responsible innovation in the age of AI, explores the growing use of sandboxes as tools for fostering innovation and enabling responsible regulatory experimentation. The launch of the report will be followed by a series of co-creation labs in various regions, with the first one taking place in Kigali, which will be the first of the Co-Creation Lab Series on Africa Sandboxes for AI.
Amplifying voices
The Youth4Data Lab Toolkit, published by the Datasphere Initiative, is designed to empower youth to actively engage in shaping a responsible digital future. It emphasises adaptable, innovation-focused governance through mechanisms such as regulatory sandboxes, policy labs, and hackathons. By providing practical tools and methodologies, the toolkit aims to foster youth-driven innovation in data governance, ensuring that young voices contribute meaningfully to the development of inclusive and effective digital policies.
Capacity development
Additionally, the Sandbox Summer School is an educational programme designed to equip participants with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in regulatory and operational sandboxes. This programme aims to build expertise in data governance, fostering innovation and cross-border collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders.
Through these programmes, as well as seminars, roundtables, and consultations, the Datasphere Initiative strives to foster the creation of agile frameworks that responsibly unlock the value of data, ensuring that data governance evolves in tandem with technological advancements.
Social media channels
Instagram @datasphere
LinkedIn @datasphere-initiative
Medium @thedatasphere
TikTok @youth4data
X @thedatasphere
YouTube @The Datasphere
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The IFRC is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150–250 million people each year through its 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The IFRC exists to support the work of its member National Societies, ensuring that they have the capacities and systems to be strong, independent, trusted, and accountable local actors. It connects National Societies into one international network, ensuring principled and localised action with global reach and impact.
Our community-based work is guided by the IFRC Strategy 2030, which identifies five global challenges: climate and environment; evolving disasters and crises; health and well-being; migration and displacement; and values, power, and inclusion.
At the same time, the IFRC prioritises National Society development, strategic and operational coordination, and influential humanitarian diplomacy, and upholds a culture of accountability and agility across the network. In this way, the IFRC network saves lives, builds community resilience, strengthens localisation, and promotes human dignity around the world. All IFRC network activities are inspired by the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
Digital activities
Data, digital tools, and artificial intelligence (AI) help us deliver effective, efficient services to people living in the world’s most vulnerable settings. They enable life-saving communication through impact-based forecasting and early warning systems, support community feedback for better accountability and enhance knowledge sharing.
We are transforming how we measure and extend our global impact through digital innovation. Common data standards and AI-powered analytics help us optimise data collection and analysis, demonstrating the reach and effectiveness of humanitarian services delivered by member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
AI enables us to continuously learn, improving the speed and quality of our services. It also enhances knowledge management and supports volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement. Digital tools, combined with AI, expand how we connect with those in need through, for example, self-enrolment apps to offer vital information, cash assistance, and referrals – all through mobile phones.
In 2021, the IFRC adopted a Digital Transformation Strategy to accelerate the use of data, digital tools, and AI across our network. This is a key focus of the IFRC Strategy 2030 and our Agenda for Renewal, supported by efforts to build data literacy, peer collaboration, and strategic partnerships.
Then, in 2024, we launched our first AI guidelines, grounded in the seven Red Cross and Red Crescent principles. We are committed to training staff and volunteers to use new technologies ethically, safely, and transparently.
We welcome collaboration with other organisations to advance digital transformation in the humanitarian sector. Our upcoming Digital Transformation Impact Platform will support collaboration.
Contact us to learn more.
Digital policy issues and tools
- The IFRC is a data-driven organisation dedicated to making evidence-based decision-making. The Federation-wide databank and reporting system (FDRS) is the IFRC platform dedicated to providing insights into the Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) National Societies. The data is gathered through a yearly data collection from 191 National Societies.
- The self-assessment part of the Organisation Capacity Assessment and Certification (OCAC) process is intended to capture the strengths and weaknesses of National Societies as a whole in relation to a wide range of organisational capacities.
- The Branch Organizational Capacity Assessment (BOCA) process is intended to capture the strengths and weaknesses of National Societies branches as a whole in relation to a wide range of organisational capacities.
Capacity development
The IFRC network supports a diverse range of data and digital tools that facilitate local capacity development.
The Preparedness for Effective Response (PER) approach serves as a foundational platform to guide National Societies in assessing and enhancing their organisational and personnel capacities for humanitarian response. In addition to the main assessment platform, the PER tools also link to dedicated eLearning courses on the IFRC Learning Platform and include a databank of lessons from past response operations matched to specific PER criteria.
As part of the IFRC Digital Transformation Strategy 510 (an initiative of the Netherlands Red Cross), the IFRC has developed a Digital Transformation Assessment to guide National Societies in assessing their digital capabilities in terms of people, processes, and technology. The Assessment also provides guidance on the next steps National Societies can take to address capability gaps and advance further in the digital transformation of their humanitarian work.
The IFRC is also well served by the following:
- The Solferino Academy, an innovation ‘do tank’ that promotes learning between National Societies, leadership development, and innovation projects. such as a recent action research project on collective intelligence conducted in Cameroon and Nepal together with Nesta in the UK.
- A dedicated theme for Digital Transformation and Systems Development under the IFRC Capacity Building Fund (CBF) that supports National Societies to make essential investments in capacity development. Already, 39 National Societies have accessed the CBF to support digital transformation initiatives between August 2021 and August 2022, and 58 National Societies benefited from a special programme under the CBF to ensure that all National Societies have the capability to digitally connect and collaborate virtually.
- Solutions like New Zealand Red Cross’s Knowledge Pacific Programme, which includes IT-in-a-Box infrastructure aimed at supporting National Societies with low capacities to establish a dependable, secure, modular IT infrastructure for digital connectivity and services.
In addition, the IFRC network relies on a set of 12 reference centres and other centres of excellence within the RCRC network to help lead in key thematic areas and to encourage and advance peer-to-peer learning within the network. The Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC), hosted by the American RC, and 510, hosted by the Netherlands RC, have prominent programmes to support digital innovation and services within the network. In addition, a range of other National Societies are contributing to specific topics, including the British Red Cross on surge support for information management; the Spanish Red Cross on volunteer data management; the Norwegian Red Cross, the Danish Red Cross, and the Kenyan Red Cross on the use of digital ID and digital-based inclusive currencies.
The Kenya Red Cross Society has an International Center for Humanitarian Affairs (ICHA) focused on innovation. The Kenya Red Cross Society implemented a digital ID healthcare pilot in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps, using QR codes linked to digital wallets containing patient information and basic health records. The digital wallet system in Kenya was developed by Gravity12, based on a methodology previously used for cash assistance.
The IFRC is part of the DIGID consortium, which includes collaboration with the American Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, Norwegian Refugee Council, Norwegian Church Aid, Save the Children and Innovation Norway. The consortium has conducted digital ID pilots with displaced communities in Kenya and Uganda, finding that digital ID can support dignity and access to services for people without identification documents. The Uganda Red Cross Society implemented a Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) pilot using digital ID with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Uganda.
The Kenya Red Cross Society and the Uganda Red Cross Society conducted a cross-border simulation exercise to test how digital credentials issued by one National Society could be used when vulnerable people move to a new location and seek assistance from another National Society. In 2023, the IFRC and the Kenya Red Cross published a document titled ‘Dignified Identities in humanitarian action: Journey and reflection’.
The IFRC has published case studies documenting these experiences, including ‘Dignified identities in healthcare and migration: Lessons from Kenya’ and ‘Dignified credentials to access humanitarian cash assistance in migration: lessons learnt from Uganda’. In 2021, the IFRC also published a report titled ‘Digital Identity: An analysis for the humanitarian sector’.
In line with its service-oriented, demand-driven approach to building community resilience, the GDPC has developed the Business Preparedness Initiative (BPI) Toolkit to save lives, protect livelihoods, and shorten recovery times following disasters by providing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with adaptable preparedness tools. Atlas: Ready For Business is a free mobile app currently available in multiple languages (with more to come) on iOS and Android to help organisations build adaptability and create basic business continuity plans. Workshop In A Box is a downloadable toolkit that provides all of the support information and customisable materials a facilitator needs to promote, organise, and run workshops to help SMEs take basic steps towards being crisis ready and to continue their preparedness journey using the Atlas.
The GDPC, Google, and the IFRC have also developed the WhatNow Service, a global platform to assist National Societies and their local partners to localise key messages on how individuals, households, and communities can prepare for, respond to, and recover from hazards. Any media partner can access the messages and broadcast them across their networks, all with the National Society’s name and logo, providing a mechanism to increase the scale in the dissemination of harmonised, trusted, actionable guidance, currently covering 20 hazards in 78 languages. These messages are across six urgency levels and follow a five-step, circular process:
- National Societies adapt key, actionable messaging to their context.
- National Societies engage with media partners to implement the service.
- Media partners access National Societies’ WhatNow messages through an open Application Programming Interface (API) and broadcast across their networks.
- Communities at risk receive WhatNow messages.
- National Societies engage with communities for feedback on the process and further adapt accordingly.
Cash assistance has become an increasingly important and default tool for humanitarian assistance in the IFRC network. The Turkish Red Crescent – in collaboration with the Turkish government, the World Food Programme (WFP), the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and the IFRC in the most recent phase – has developed the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) programme using the Kizilaykart payment system, which has provided monthly cash assistance to Syrian refugees, reaching more than 2.3 million individuals (410,000 households) in the latest ESSN III phase. The IFRC has been exploring the use of the Kizilaykart approach and a similar collaboration with RedRose in the Ukraine crisis response, where an innovative mechanism for self-registration has been introduced.
The 121 Digital Cash Aid Platform was developed by the Netherlands Red Cross in collaboration with humanitarian, technical, and academic partners. The 121 platform includes a portal for managing CVA programmes and an app for aid workers to validate recipients. The platform is optimised for low-bandwidth areas and integrates with Kobo for offline registration. The 121 platform was first designed and piloted in Kenya by the Kenya Red Cross, supported by the Netherlands Red Cross, the British Red Cross, and the GSMA. The 121 platform has been used to support displaced and migrant communities in Ethiopia, Lebanon, Ukraine, and the Netherlands.
The AccessRC app, developed in collaboration with RedRose, has provided a game-changing way to reach, engage, and assist people on the move due to the Ukraine crisis. The self-enrolment and integrated assistance model enabled by the AccessRC app – and planned as part of a broader assistance platform vision and ecosystem – has enabled the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to rapidly extend their humanitarian assistance to remote locations and connect people in need to a diverse range of services.
The AccessRC app processed over 10,000 CVA (Cash and Voucher Assistance) applications from displaced Ukrainians in the first 20 days after launch, demonstrating its effectiveness at scale. The app allows affected communities to register and access assistance at times and places convenient for them, eliminating the need to queue at physical service locations.
Data and digital tools for Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) have also become an essential way for the IFRC to extend and deepen its engagement with vulnerable communities. A range of tools had been developed for rumour tracking that were used extensively in the COVID-19 response and are still used in the Ukraine crisis response. In addition, 510 (an initiative of the Netherlands Red Cross), in collaboration with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the private sector company Twilio, and the IFRC, has been leading the development of a digital community engagement hub. The hub will enable National Societies to create cloud messaging services to provide cheap (or even free) interactive messaging via diverse text messaging services, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, and SMS. The hub builds on an extensive set of scripting templates developed by the NRC and represents a rare example of the creative repurposing of digital tools between humanitarian organisations.
The IFRC also hosts the Mobile Data Collection Working Group and operates its own KoBo and ODK servers to facilitate access to mobile data collection tools by National Societies and provide additional back services to store and manage data. See the IFRC Kobo Toolbox for more details.
510 (an initiative of the Netherlands Red Cross) has also created an impact-based forecasting (IBF) system and portal to help National Societies establish their own data and analysis platforms to support the development of forecast-based financing (FbF) initiatives that can use crisis forecasts as the basis for automatically triggering funding support and other early action protocols that can enable National Societies and communities to start acting as soon as forecasts are issued instead of having to wait for support until days and weeks after crises events have happened.
Digital data tools are also providing important opportunities to advance traditional humanitarian services. Many National Societies provide ambulance services in their countries and are increasingly using data and digital tools to pre-position ambulances in high-need areas, dispatch at speed, improve routing, and enable enhanced communication and continuity of care with hospitals during transit. The IFRC has conducted a business value case analysis for digitally transforming ambulance services that compares the experience and insights in nine National Societies.
The Universal App Program (UAP) provides cutting-edge mobile app technology free of charge to National Societies to raise first aid awareness by offering high-quality apps to the public in their countries. The programme combines two tools – the First Aid app and the Hazard app – that provide efficient and cost-effective access to mobile applications to reach a growing number of people with important life-saving information. The First Aid app contains easy-to-understand information about how to identify and respond to a range of common first aid scenarios – such as bleeding, heart attacks, choking, and burns – and supports localisation in local languages, interactive quizzes, and step-by-step instructions for users to follow in case of an emergency. The Hazards app provides preparedness information for more than 12 types of hazards. National Societies can customise the app according to their common hazards in the region and based on their local languages. The app also incorporates emergency alerts from official agencies to notify users of potential threats affecting their location. Additionally, the built-in features of these apps will enable national societies to connect with their public, solicit donations, and foster partnerships to support their own preparedness programmes.
IFRC GO is the IFRC emergency operations platform for capturing, analysing, and sharing real-time data during a crisis. IFRC GO builds up a collective and comprehensive picture of a crisis by connecting data from volunteers and responders on the ground who provide information in real time, i.e. data from their humanitarian partners and reference material from across our network. It displays the information in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Users can then turn this information into reports, maps, graphs, dashboards, and more. It helps their network better meet the needs of affected communities. The GO platform is also linked to a Surge Information Management Support (SIMS) group that actively links National Societies and the IFRC Secretariat staff to pool resources and provide remote support for information management in emergencies.
The V-Community app (available for iOS and Android) is a multilingual and interactive global platform launched in 2022 to function as the primary public space where volunteers and staff of the 192 RCRC National Societies can interact on all matters related to volunteering. It consists of three main resources: a chat forum space, a section for local stories, and a space for exchanging individual and group messages for further sharing and collaboration.
A new IFRC initiative is the Volunteer Data Management System (VDMS). It is a global initiative spearheaded by the IFRC, alongside the Spanish, French, and Kenyan Red Cross Societies, to revolutionise how volunteer data is handled across National Societies. This system is designed to streamline and boost the efficiency of volunteer operations, encompassing key aspects such as onboarding, engagement, accreditation, and communication via integrated tools for event registration, mass messaging, and comprehensive reporting.
The Road Map to Community Resilience (R2R) is a guide with a new approach and a participatory process developed by the IFRC to enable communities to become more resilient by assessing and analysing the risks they face, and implementing actions to reduce these risks. The approach also encourages use of the Community Resilience Measurement Dashboard, which provides step-by-step templates for data collection and enables programme managers and community volunteers to share the results of their assessments.
With schools closed around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, children were at home looking for engaging activities while parents were busy working. They also had questions about the coronavirus and needed to learn how to stay safe during this time. The IFRC introduced a COVID-19 Kids Activity Kit in the form of activity cards with easy step-by-step instructions and child-friendly characters. This format, and its availability in multiple languages, made it easier for National Society communicators, partners, and the public to use the resources. The IFRC also maintains a digital library and an app with all IFRC publications in English and French.
Social media channels
Facebook @IFRC
Instagram @ifrc
LinkedIn @ifrc
TikTok @ifrc
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YouTube @ifrc
Geneva Environment Network
GEN, established in 1999, is a cooperative partnership of more than 100 environmental and sustainable development organisations based at the International Environment House in Geneva and other locations in the surrounding region. The Secretariat is supported by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Geneva is a global hub for international environmental governance with more than 100 organisations committed to environmental priorities in the following key areas: Chemicals and pollution, Climate, Digital cooperation, Eco-humanitarian, Green economy, Human rights and environment, Nature, and Science.
GEN organises and hosts meetings, roundtables, briefings, and workshops in preparation for major environmental negotiations and to promote the dissemination of information and public awareness of environmental issues. In addition, GEN actively promotes increased cooperation and networking among its partners and publishes a weekly newsletter highlighting the latest news, resources, events, and jobs in the region.
Digital activities
Digital cooperation is one of the key areas of focus of GEN’s activities.
Digital policy issues
Data, digital technology and the environment
Geneva is one of the main global hubs where digital policies are debated, evaluated, and adopted. As such, digital cooperation is one of the region’s key areas for international environmental governance activities and for reinforcing synergies among stakeholders.
Although advancing technology has always been coupled with significant impacts on the environment, recent advances in technology offer ground-breaking opportunities to monitor and protect the environment, as well as the overall planetary health. By harnessing them appropriately, the digital revolution can be steered to act on the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, and to advance global sustainability, environmental stewardship, and human well-being, towards achieving the right to a healthy environment for all.
GEN supports International Geneva activities and hosts meetings, roundtables, briefings, and workshops to
- promote the production of and access to transparent and high-quality data, which are crucial to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
- discuss digital technology as a carbon producer and its widespread impact on global sustainability.
- discuss the contribution of digital technologies, including Earth observation, data collection and monitoring, sustainable consumption and production patterns, as well as sound environmental management.
- emphasise the importance of good governance in the digital arena and the need for cooperation among governments, institutions, and other data producers and users for better sustainability outcomes.
The organisations in the region that contribute to the environmental dimension of digital cooperation listed and partnering with GEN, include the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), Group on Earth Observations (GEO), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Internet Governance Forum (IGF), Global Resource Information Database (UNEP/GRID-Geneva), and World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Sustainable development
Most GEN activities under this basket discuss the following:
- How technology advancements are associated with major environmental consequences.
- How recent technological breakthroughs provide opportunities to monitor and protect the environment and the global health of the planet.
- How the digital revolution can be used to tackle the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, while advancing global sustainability, environmental stewardship, and human well-being.
More specifically, GEN recognises how digital technologies can transform environmental governance:
– The combination of innovations enables the mapping of population, social development, and economic actors to understand and predict natural resource use and demand.
– The potential for real-time decision-making on natural resources that could transform global environmental governance frameworks.
– The possibility for decisions to be made, monitored, and enforced using real-time spatial and statistical data.
GEN is connected to initiatives promoting transparent and collaborative data collection for sustainable development goals (SDGs), including resources like the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. The network is engaged in the UN World Data Forum 2021 and its outcomes, including the Bern Data Compact for the Decade of Action on the SDGs. GEN is also involved in the Green Digital Action track at COP28, which focuses on leveraging digital solutions for climate action.
These discussions are held in preparation for major environmental negotiations and as outreach on their outcomes. They act on the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution that the world is facing, through science-based governance, leveraging data and technology respectful of the environment, and ensuring its access to all, to achieve everyone’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
The website is an important tool for GEN. Updated daily, it includes information on all partners, their events, and other resources. All summaries, videos, and related resources on the events organised by GEN are accessible through the website. All events are now hybrid to allow better participation, with tools developed to encourage active participation.
Social media channels
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Group on Earth Observations
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) provides Earth Intelligence to support evidence-based decision-making. GEO draws upon a global network of 116 governments and 162 organisations, including leading space agencies, research institutes, the technology sector, civil society, and UN agencies, to drive international consensus and systems change.
GEO co-designs open, reproducible, and scalable information products with public agencies, academia, and the private sector, driving innovation and creating value. GEO’s services are tailored to stakeholder needs, delivering Earth Intelligence that drives positive change and measurable impact.
Digital activities
GEO empowers everyone, everywhere to use and contribute to Earth Intelligence, enabling better decisions for people, the planet, and nature.
Harnessing the power of interdisciplinary collaboration
GEO draws upon the expertise of an extensive global network of Earth system experts, comprising 116 governments, 162 international, private sector, and civil society organisations. This diverse network includes the world’s leading space agencies, renowned research institutes and UN agencies. By convening relevant stakeholders across sectors, GEO has the unique ability to forge international consensus and drive evidence-based decisions to promote system change.
Strategic approach
GEO builds strategic partnerships among public agencies, academia, and the private sector to co-design information products that are open, reproducible, and scalable. This approach ensures that the expertise and technology of different stakeholders are leveraged to drive innovation and create tangible value for them. By organising and translating Earth observation (EO) data into trusted open tools and services, GEO helps bridge the digital divide and close knowledge gaps between stakeholders and the Earth observation data they need.
Providing demand-driven services
GEO offers a portfolio of demand-driven services that drive positive change and deliver measurable impact. By tailoring its solutions to meet the specific needs of diverse stakeholders, GEO ensures that its Earth Intelligence products are both relevant and actionable.
Digital policy issues
Data governance
GEO recognises that the societal benefits arising from Earth Intelligence can only be fully achieved through the sharing of data, information, knowledge, products, and services. Ever since its inception, GEO has been a strong advocate for broad and open data-sharing policies and practices (Open Earth Observation Data). The Data Sharing Principles (2005-2015) inspired a few members and participating organisations to evolve from restricted data policies to open data approaches. Data sharing was also recognised as one of the greatest successes of the first GEO decade. Embracing the international trend of open data, GEO principals endorsed a new set of Data Management Principles. These principles promote ‘open data by default’ and address the need for discovery, accessibility, usability, preservation, and curation of data.
GEO has established the Data and Knowledge Working Group to support the implementation of its data principles.
To enable indigenous peoples to equitably participate in and benefit from data creation, application, and stewardship within contemporary data environments, the GEO Indigenous Alliance advocates for the implementation of CARE (collective benefit, authority to control, responsibility, ethics) with FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) principles. The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance are people- and purpose-oriented, reflecting the crucial role of data in advancing indigenous innovation, and self-determination. These principles complement the existing FAIR principles, encouraging open and other data movements to consider both people and purpose in their advocacy and pursuits.
Sustainable development
GEO leads global initiatives that explore our planet’s ecological health, climate challenges, disaster readiness, resource optimisation, urban sustainability, and public health priorities. By integrating Earth Intelligence with global frameworks like the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, GEO demonstrates our commitment to fostering a healthy, sustainable, and resilient world.
GEO addresses eight specific thematic areas: Agriculture and food security; land and water sustainability; ecosystems, biodiversity, and carbon management; weather, hazard and disaster resilience; climate, energy, and urbanisation; One Health; equity and inclusion; and open data, open knowledge and infrastructure.
Driven by the GEO Post-2025 Strategy, Earth Intelligence for All, GEO is committed to co-producing actionable insights with and for our diverse user base.
The GEO Work Programme is the primary instrument to encourage collaboration among our members, participating organisations, associates, and other partners. It aims to fulfil GEO’s mission and vision by addressing information needs in various fields where EOs play a crucial role.
GEO is increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into its Earth Intelligence initiatives, with approximately half of the GEO Work Programme activities identifying as advanced or medium-level AI users. AI applications within GEO primarily focus on image classification, change detection, and predictive modelling for Earth observation data. GEO contributes to the global ‘AI for Good’ vision and participates in global AI discussions, including representation at UNFCCC’s High-Level Event on AI at COP28 and the 2024 AI for Good Summit.
Digital tools and initiatives
The current flagship programmes in the GEO Work Programme are GEO Land Degradation Neutrality, GEO Biodiversity Observation Network, GEO Global Agricultural Monitoring, the Global Forest Observation Initiative, and the Global Observation System for Mercury. To facilitate access to Earth Intelligence applications, we have the GEO Knowledge Hub, a digital library. Ministers and ministerial representatives adopted the Group on Earth Observations 2023 Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on 10 November 2023. The Declaration endorses the GEO Post-2025 Strategy Earth Intelligence for All, which charges GEO with developing an implementation plan to guide the execution of the strategy, and reaffirms the integral role of young people as catalysts for sustainable development, among other statements.
GEO assists countries in its region in addressing sustainable development challenges. The vision of the GEO Indigenous Alliance is to protect and conserve indigenous cultural heritage by using science, data and technology to create a knowledge base that sustains the Earth we live on.
GEO has developed a series of tools and initiatives to promote the use of Earth Intelligence as evidence for decision-making.
- GEO Knowledge Hub
- Global Ecosystems Atlas
- Global Heat Resilience Service
- Earth Observations Risk Toolkit
- Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO-BON)
- The Global Forest Observation Initiative (GFOI)
- The Global Observation System for Mercury
- Global Agricultural Monitoring Initiative
- AfriGEO: The African Group on Earth Observations
- AmeriGEO A Framework for Advancing Data Driven Decision-Making
- AOGEO (Asia-Oceania Group on Earth Observations)
- EuroGEO
Additional tools and initiatives:
– Global Water Sustainability Initiative (GEOGLOWS)
– GEO-Microsoft Planetary Computer Programme
– Harnessing AI for Earth observations for All
An important convention that, although not directly covering digital issues, is still relevant.
Consumer Unity & Trust Society
Since its establishment in 1983–84, CUTS International has been a leading southern voice in the space of trade, economics, and development to ensure consumer sovereignty. As digitalisation accelerated across sectors, CUTS has undertaken many research, advocacy, networking, and capacity building initiatives, within the realm of the digital economy to enable consumers, particularly the poor and marginalised social groups, to achieve their right to basic needs, sustainable development, and good governance through a strong consumer movement. Being a global independent nonprofit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) working on public interest issues, CUTS addresses three main thematic areas: Rules-based trade, Effective regulation, and Good governance. Within these focus areas, CUTS has undertaken multiple initiatives promoting competition, investment, regulation, trade, and governance reforms across sectors, through evidence-based research in least developed and developing countries. This is being done through a strongly rooted presence across India and at the global level, including Lusaka, Nairobi, Accra, Hanoi, Geneva, and Washington, DC.
Established in 2008, CUTS International Geneva is a nonprofit NGO that catalyses the pro-trade, pro-equity voices of the Global South in international trade and development debates in Geneva. Through its work, it has made a name for linking people and issues in the world of multilateral trade with their counterparts in related policy areas. These include regional integration, agriculture, environment, competition, investment, and consumer protection, among others. Its vision is to pursue social justice and economic equity within and across borders by persuading governments and empowering people. Its mission is to establish and promote a pro-trade pro-equity credible southern NGO voice, as well as the means to achieve this in the policymaking circles working on trade and development and other related issues in Geneva. Its objectives are to:
- Improve inclusivity in relevant policymaking processes and decisions through better participation of developing countries’ stakeholders, including at the grassroots level.
- Build the capacity of policymakers, negotiators, and other important stakeholders through demand-driven and needs-based research and analysis.
- Contribute to a deeper and broader understanding of relevant issues through targeted and research-based outputs.
- Enhance policy coherence at all levels by analysing and raising the profile of issue linkages.
- Facilitate mutual learning through information and knowledge sharing across networks.
- Stimulate common interests among developed and developing countries through advocacy, dialogues, and networking.
CUTS adopts a bottom-up approach that promotes the engagement of key stakeholders in designing and implementing economic development policies, from the national to the international level. Their successful work methodology relies on research and analysis to inform advocacy and training activities, involving networks of beneficiaries at all stages. With offices in India, Kenya, Zambia, Vietnam, Ghana, Switzerland (Geneva), and the USA (Washington, DC), CUTS’s family of organisations has made its footprint in the realm of economic governance across the developing world and beyond. As a vibrant advocate of South-South cooperation and economic democracy, CUTS has been forming and maintaining strategic alliances with like-minded organisations in over 50 countries, particularly in the developing world. At the international level, it has established formal institutional relationships with several intergovernmental organisations, whose work it seeks to influence. These are, the World Trade Organization (WTO) – accredited NGO, the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) – observer status, East African Community secretariat (EAC) – MOU, Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) – MOU, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – observer status.
Digital activities
CUTS’s work and expertise span three functional areas:
- International trade and development
- Competition, investment, and economic regulation
- Consumer protection and good governance
CUTS International, Geneva, Switzerland, and its sister CUTS organisations in India, Kenya, Zambia, Vietnam, the USA, and Ghana have made their footprints in the realm of economic governance across the developing world. Their activities stretch from Asia to Africa, South America, and beyond.
Digital policy issues
E-commerce
CUTS works towards sound digital policy, fair rules, and e-commerce readiness, which can enable developing countries to harness the potential of e-commerce for their sustainable development, firms, and vulnerable communities. CUTS supports developing countries in effectively harnessing innovation and intellectual property systems to spur industrialisation in the digital era, while responding to climate change, food security, and other sustainable development challenges.
Support facility on WTO E-Commerce Joint Statement Initiative (JSI)
As WTO JSI talks on Electronic Commerce gained momentum in 2021, CUTS’s ad-hoc support facility on the subject established under its WTO Umbrella Grant attracted trade negotiators’ interest beyond its initially intended audience. Indeed, apart from delegates from the 11 targeted beneficiary countries, other developing country negotiators sought to benefit from the support. Through over 70 interventions, CUTS provided beneficiary delegates with clarifications on negotiating texts, factual briefings on negotiated topics, and occasional support in drafting submissions and proposals. This informed their participation in e-commerce talks, on topics such as e-signatures, electronic contracts, open government data, online consumer protection, spam, paperless trading, cybersecurity, and others.
E-Commerce and African Regional Integration
From April 2019 to June 2020, CUTS International Geneva undertook a project titled E-Commerce and African Continental Integration, with funding support from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). The project aimed to ensure that African stakeholders, policymakers, and trade negotiators knew suitable policy options through which African continental integration could harness the sustainable development potential of e-commerce, specifically in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Through research and dialogue, the project contributed to, inter alia: (1) better-informed participation of African negotiators, with lessons learned discussed in various dialogues; and (2) supported structures and processes involved in promoting e-commerce development in Africa, including regulatory matters and AfCFTA discussions, etc.
Economic policy
CUTS strives for well-functioning markets that support inclusive and progressive structural transformation and help developing countries enact and implement effective competition regimes that improve the level playing field for their firms and the welfare of their consumers. CUTS promotes sound investment regimes that foster increased and sustainable foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and supportive structural transformation for people and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries.
It empowers consumers to uphold their rights to fair, safe, and informed access to basic necessities and advise governments accordingly. It supports the effective design and implementation of balanced, transparent regulations to foster better access to key services for businesses and consumers towards sustainable development, job creation, and structural transformation.
Sustainable development
Trading system
CUTS strives to preserve a strong and well-functioning multilateral trading system, including through support for better participation of smaller developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs), and to promote balanced and fair rules for all to support sustainable development at the national, regional, and international levels. Its work helps WTO members converge on creative solutions to restore the WTO’s leadership in setting global trade rules sensitive to small developing countries’ special needs. CUTS also helps developing country groups to identify, defend, and advance their interests in WTO discussions and negotiations on a level playing field, backed by evidence and private sector feedback. CUTS works to bring together developed and developing country negotiators to share information and perspectives with a view to building trust and convergence among them and in the trading system as a whole.
Between 2019 and 2022, for instance, CUTS’s WTO Umbrella Grant project strengthened the capacity of developing and LDC trade officials as they determined their level of engagement, strategy, and approach to the WTO JSIs – E-Commerce, Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD), and MSMEs. Undertaken jointly with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and with funding support from the UK’s Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund (TAF2+), the project achievements notably included: (1) clarified national positions on the Electronic Commerce JSI in six countries; (2) text proposals submitted by beneficiary countries in JSIs, notably outlining options for capacity building; (3) contributions to the establishment of the ‘Scope and Definitions’ subgroup in investment facilitation talks; (4) implementing the MSME Informal Working Group’s (MSME IWG’s) vision for the Trade4MSMEs.org online platform.
Plurilateral and regional agreements have become a major driving force of global trade integration, creating new opportunities for people, provided that agreed regimes are fair and sound. CUTS aims to ensure that preferential trade agreements negotiated by and among developing countries leverage trade integration in pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development for people.
Trade Policy at Work may be a powerful force for sustainable development, structural transformation, and poverty reduction. It helps developing countries monitor and wisely use standards and non-tariff measures (NTMs) to support their sustainable development, as well as to boost their participation in global trade and value chains. CUTS assists developing countries in effectively implementing agreed trade rules, while also leveraging preferences and special and differential treatment (SDT) granted by trading partners. CUTS helps them promote predictable and efficient administrative procedures that make the movement of goods across borders cheaper and faster, hence boosting the competitiveness of MSMEs
Environment and climate change
CUTS helps developing countries participate in climate talks on a level playing field and to identify, defend, and advance their interests in UNFCCC negotiations, backed by evidence and private sector feedback. Through research and advice, they help developing countries devise adaptation strategies for more resilient economies and support developing country negotiators and policymakers in crafting mitigation solutions in areas of their interest, for example, agriculture. CUTS strives for the implementation of the Paris Agreement in a gender-sensitive, inclusive, and sustainable way (i.e. supportive of economic and social development).
CUTS also strives for climate-resilient, sustainable economies and livelihoods by supporting environmentally sound policies and the strategic use of global climate talks. The economies of developing countries typically rely on sectors that are highly dependent on environmental resources, such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Developing countries have embraced environmental issues in their policy agendas, although their implementation capacity often remains limited. CUTS sensitises governments about key linkages between the environment and other areas, such as agriculture, the rise of global value chains, and the ongoing digital revolution. It promotes the sustainable management of life on land and life below water, highlighting the potential roles of trade therein.
Sustainable agriculture
CUTS promotes sustainable agricultural systems that secure food for all by advising on the adoption of climate-resilient policy solutions, as well as holistic policies for agro-processing. Most developing countries remain net food importers, while their exports face a complex global agricultural trade regime. CUTS’s work promotes properly functioning agricultural trade rules and food commodity markets, which should allow developing countries to leverage trade to improve their food production, value addition, and security. Commercial farming is rare in developing countries, the potential of agriculture is huge, and solutions exist. For instance, technology and digitalisation can help transform agricultural systems, making them more sustainable and attracting youth into new jobs.
Capacity development
Since 2017, CUTS’s just-in-time Course on Digital Commerce, with jointly undertaken with DiploFoundation and ITC, has been pursuing a very concrete goal: to assist trade professionals to better understand what digitalisation and the internet mean for trade negotiators, and help them ensure their countries reap the benefits of the digital economy. The training has equipped them with up-to-date, neutral, objective knowledge, in a user-friendly and informative format. Over the years, the course has helped trade negotiators and policymakers navigate an ever more complex digital commerce agenda. It has provided them with a common space to explore the connection between trade and the digital economy and the development implications of this interplay.
In 2021, the course was thoroughly reviewed and updated to answer the pressing needs of digital commerce practitioners by exploring in depth the issues covered by the JSI on Electronic Commerce, such as cross-border data flows and data localisation, network neutrality, online consumer protection and privacy, spam, open government data, customs duties on electronic transmissions, cybersecurity, and access to the source code of computer programs. Over the years, the course received over 300 applications from 98 countries and delivered training to 138 individuals from 72 countries. The most represented regions among course participants were Africa, Asia, and Europe. According to the results of a survey, 93% of the course alumni would recommend this course to colleagues working in their organisations. Additionally, 100% of the alumni considered it important to continue offering the course regularly in the years to come.
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