WSIS Prizes 2025 Winner’s Ceremony

Summary

The transcript documents the WSIS Prizes 2025 Winner’s Ceremony, which celebrated groundbreaking ICT innovations driving progress across various action lines of the World Summit on the Information Society. The ceremony was hosted by moderators and featured Secretary General Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin presenting awards to outstanding winners from around the world. Gitanjali Sah announced that the competition received a record-breaking 970 submissions from over 107 countries, with more than 2 million online broadcasts, demonstrating the global commitment to inclusive digital development.

Winners were recognized across multiple categories, including government ICT promotion, communication infrastructure, information access, capacity building, cybersecurity, e-government, e-business, e-learning, e-health, e-employment, e-environment, e-agriculture, e-science, cultural diversity, media, ethical dimensions, and international cooperation. Notable winners included Kazakhstan’s Situational Analytical Complex for government ICT promotion, Peru’s Internet para todos for communication infrastructure, Nigeria’s Digital Awareness Program for information access, and Malaysia’s NADI project for capacity building. The ceremony featured a unique occurrence where two winners were announced for the cybersecurity category, with projects from Thailand and India both receiving recognition.

Each winner delivered acceptance speeches emphasizing themes of digital inclusion, leaving no one behind, and using technology to bridge gaps in their respective countries and communities. The ceremony concluded with a group photograph of all winners with the Secretary General, followed by an exhibition inauguration and networking lunch, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the global digital development community.

Keypoints

## Major Discussion Points:

– **Record-breaking participation and global reach**: The ceremony celebrated receiving over 970 submissions from more than 107 countries with over 2 million online broadcasts, demonstrating unprecedented global engagement in ICT innovation and digital development initiatives.

– **Digital inclusion and bridging the digital divide**: Multiple winning projects focused on connecting underserved communities, including rural internet access in Peru, digital infrastructure for schools in Nigeria, community centers in remote Malaysian islands, and agricultural market systems in Bhutan.

– **Government digital transformation and e-services**: Several awards recognized innovative government initiatives, including Kazakhstan’s analytical complex, UAE’s AI-powered government services, Philippines’ business permitting system, and various e-government applications that streamline public services.

– **Cybersecurity and digital safety**: The ceremony highlighted critical security initiatives, including Thailand’s anti-scam operations center, India’s telecom verification system, and Qatar’s cybersecurity education curriculum, emphasizing the importance of building trust in digital technologies.

– **Sector-specific digital solutions**: Awards were presented across diverse application areas including e-health (Tanzania’s digital health IDs), e-learning (Saudi Arabia’s education platform), e-agriculture (Bhutan’s market information system), and youth empowerment through digital innovation.

## Overall Purpose:

The discussion centered around the WSIS Prizes 2025 Winner’s Ceremony, which aimed to recognize and celebrate outstanding ICT innovations that advance the World Summit on the Information Society’s action lines. The ceremony served to highlight successful digital development projects from around the world and demonstrate how technology can drive inclusive progress across various sectors.

## Overall Tone:

The tone throughout the ceremony was consistently celebratory, formal, and appreciative. It maintained a positive and congratulatory atmosphere from beginning to end, with speakers expressing gratitude, pride, and commitment to continued digital development. The tone was diplomatic and international in nature, with representatives from various countries sharing their achievements and thanking the global community for recognition. There was no notable shift in tone – it remained upbeat and ceremonial throughout the entire proceedings.

Speakers

**Speakers from the provided list:**

– **Moderator** – Event host/facilitator for the WSIS Prizes 2025 Winner’s Ceremony

– **Gitanjali Sah** – Co-host/facilitator for the WSIS Prizes 2025 Winner’s Ceremony

– **Dauren Nuraliyev** – Representative from Engineering and Technical Center of the President’s Affair Administration, Kazakhstan

– **Teresa Gomez** – Representative from Telefónica del Perú, Peru

– **Speaker 1** – Representative from Nigeria Communications Commission, Nigeria

– **Datuk Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzli** – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications, Malaysia

– **Prasert Chantararuangthong** – Representative from Thailand (Anti-Online Scam Operations Centre project)

– **Rajkumar Upadhyay** – Dr., Representative from Centre for Development of Telematics, India

– **Solly Malats** – His Excellency, Minister of Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, South Africa

– **Speaker 2** – Representative from Department of Government Enablement, United Arab Emirates

– **Emily Delfin** – Representative from Department of Information and Communication Technology, Mimaropa Region, Philippines

– **Khalid Al Asfour** – Dr., Representative from Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia

– **Nassor Ahmed Mazrui** – His Excellency, Minister of Health of Zanzibar, Tanzania

– **Orkhan Salahov** – Representative from Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population, Azerbaijan

– **Yu Xiaohui** – President of China Academy of Information and Communication Technology, China

– **Tenzin Rondel Wangchuk** – Ambassador Excellency, Representative from Bhutan

– **Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho** – Minister from Bhutan (video message)

– **Francisco Carvalho** – Representative from Chilean mission to UN

– **Claudio Hatz** – Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile (video message)

– **Speaker 3** – Representative from Bababev, Indonesia

– **Amon Murwira** – His Excellency, Minister from Zimbabwe

– **Anoziva Marindire** – Representative from FUSAWA Institute, Zimbabwe (video message)

– **Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki** – His Excellency, President of the National Cyber Security Agency, Qatar

– **Kirstin Grosse Frie** – Dr., Representative from German Development Agency, Germany

– **Session video 1** through **Session video 15** – Various promotional/informational videos about winning projects

**Additional speakers:**

– **Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin** – Secretary General of ITU (mentioned but did not speak in transcript)

# WSIS Prizes 2025 Winner’s Ceremony: Summary Report

## Executive Overview

The WSIS Prizes 2025 Winner’s Ceremony celebrated global digital innovation, recognizing outstanding ICT initiatives that advance the World Summit on the Information Society’s action lines. The ceremony was hosted by moderators with Secretary General Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin presenting awards to winners across eleven categories.

Co-host Gitanjali Sah announced record-breaking participation figures, with over 970 submissions received from more than 107 countries and over 2 million online broadcasts. The ceremony included video presentations for each winning project, winner acceptance speeches, and concluded with a group photograph, exhibition inauguration, and networking lunch.

## Award Winners by Category

### C1: Government ICT Promotion and Digital Infrastructure

**Kazakhstan – Situational Analytical Complex**

Kazakhstan’s comprehensive digital ecosystem incorporates real-time dashboards and predictive models. Dauren Noraliyev emphasized that this international recognition demonstrated Kazakhstan’s focus on technology and open collaboration, highlighting the country’s commitment to digital transformation at the governmental level.

### C2: Communication Infrastructure – Internet para todos (Peru)

Peru’s Internet para todos project successfully connected almost 4 million people across more than 19,000 rural communities. Teresa Gomez stated: “Access to Internet shouldn’t be a privilege. Access to the Internet is a fundamental right. That opens doors to innovation, education, better living conditions, new opportunities, and equity.”

### C3: Information Access – Digital Awareness Program (Nigeria)

Nigeria’s Digital Awareness Program has been equipping public schools, mostly rural, underserved, and unserved areas for the past 20 years, enabling thousands of students to access digital tools. The Nigerian representative emphasized the programme’s long-term commitment to bridging educational gaps through technology.

### C4: Capacity Building – NADI Project (Malaysia)

Malaysia’s NADI project ensures that even remote island communities are connected with digital access and services. Datuk Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzli stated Malaysia’s commitment to ensuring “no one in remote regions is left behind in the digital era,” and noted: “This award belongs to the communities who have embraced digital skills for a better future, and to all Malaysians driving our vision of an inclusive, connected nation.”

### C5: Cybersecurity (Two Winners)

**Thailand – Anti-Online Scam Operations Centre (AOC)**

Thailand’s AOC provides 24/7 service using AI to analyze financial records and suspicious transactions. Prasert Chantararuangthong emphasized Thailand’s commitment to building trust and security in the digital age through dismantling online criminal networks.

**India – AI and Facial Recognition Solution**

India’s AI and Facial Recognition solution for telecom SIM subscriber verification enhances security infrastructure. Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay highlighted how this technology strengthens national security systems.

### C6: E-Government – Digitec Programme (South Africa)

South Africa’s Digitec programme ignites local ICT SMMEs to solve real-world challenges. His Excellency Solly Malats attributed the innovation to “public officials who drive solutions in the department,” emphasizing the human element behind technological achievements.

### C7: E-Government Services – TAM AI Assistant (UAE)

The UAE’s TAM AI Assistant, launched in October 2024, connects the public to over 1,100 government services, supporting more than 700,000 conversations across 90 languages and resolving more than a million cases. This multilingual approach demonstrates sophisticated attention to linguistic diversity in digital service delivery.

### C7: E-Government Services – ELGU-BPLS System (Philippines)

The Philippines’ ELGU-BPLS system revolutionized business permitting, reducing processing times from weeks to minutes across 11 local government units. Emily Delfin observed: “While geography may divide us, technology brings us together.”

### C7: Education and Learning – Madaracity Platform (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia’s Madaracity platform serves over 10 million users with end-to-end learning journeys and virtual classrooms. Dr. Khalid Al Asfour noted that the platform reflects the country’s commitment to innovation and digital transformation under Vision 2030.

### C7: Health – Matibabu Card System (Tanzania)

Tanzania’s Matibabu card system provides 92% of Zanzibar’s population with unique health IDs, reaching 312,000 households. The system achieved 18% population coverage for health insurance in its first year. His Excellency Nassor Ahmed Mazrui described this achievement as representing “the power of partnership and commitment to ensure no one is left behind in healthcare.”

### C7: Employment – Graduate Employment Ranking Platform (Azerbaijan)

Azerbaijan’s Graduate Employment Ranking platform covers data from over 100,000 graduates across 30 universities. Orkhan Salahov explained that the platform “empowers choices to enable futures by connecting education with employment.”

### C7: Agriculture – Agricultural Market Information System (Bhutan)

Bhutan’s Agricultural Market Information System enables farmers to access pricing information from any part of the country. Ambassador Excellency Tenzin Rondel Wangchuk stated: “I would like to dedicate this award to all the farmers in Bhutan and farmers around the world for feeding us every day.” Minister Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho, in a video message, emphasized how the system helps the Ministry improve agricultural marketing for farmers’ daily benefit.

### C11: Science – Brain Health Project (Chile)

Chile’s brain health project develops technologies to reduce adverse effects of aging on cognitive decline. Professor Claudio Hatz, in a video message, explained that the research addresses aging as the main risk factor for chronic diseases affecting human populations. Francisco Carvalho represented Chile at the ceremony.

### Additional Category Winners

**Indonesia – Digital-First Movement for Youth**

Indonesia’s digital-first movement reaches youth through competitions and dialogues in local languages. The Indonesian representative accepted the award “on behalf of young people using digital technology for civic participation.”

**Zimbabwe – Girls Speak Out Programme**

Zimbabwe’s Girls Speak Out programme addresses the significant gap where only 65 girls have digital skills for every 100 boys. His Excellency Amon Murwira noted that the programme “bridges digital divides and turns WSIS ideals into tangible realities.” Anoziva Marindire, in a video message, dedicated the recognition to “brilliant young women.”

**Qatar – Cybersecurity Curriculum**

Qatar’s Cybersecurity Curriculum reached over 280,000 students across 400 schools, including special needs institutions. His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki explained that the project “enhances cyber resilience and empowers the next generation with essential cybersecurity skills.”

**Germany – One Health Data Alliance Africa**

Germany’s One Health Data Alliance Africa improves collaboration for managing environmental and public health risks. Dr. Kirstin Grosse Frie emphasized that the success “demonstrates the importance of partnerships and working together to realise health management dreams.”

**China – Meteorological Disaster Warning System**

China’s meteorological disaster warning system delivers near real-time alerts and is becoming part of national infrastructure. Yu Xiaohui, President of China Academy of Information and Communication Technology, presented this initiative as an example of enhanced disaster preparedness capabilities.

## Ceremony Proceedings

The ceremony followed a structured format with each winner category being announced, followed by video presentations showcasing the winning projects, and acceptance speeches from representatives. Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin presented awards to each winner.

Specific housekeeping arrangements were made for photographers during the ceremony. The event concluded with a group photograph of all winners with the Secretary General, followed by an exhibition inauguration with ribbon cutting and a networking lunch.

## Project Impact and Scope

The winning projects demonstrated significant scale and reach:

– Peru’s connectivity project: 4 million people across 19,000+ rural communities

– Saudi Arabia’s education platform: 10 million users

– UAE’s government services: 700,000+ conversations in 90 languages

– Tanzania’s health system: 92% population coverage in Zanzibar

– Qatar’s cybersecurity education: 280,000+ students across 400 schools

– Azerbaijan’s employment platform: 100,000+ graduates from 30 universities

## Common Themes

Several themes emerged across winner presentations:

– **Digital inclusion**: Multiple projects focused on reaching remote, rural, and underserved communities

– **Partnership approaches**: Winners emphasized collaboration between governments, organizations, and communities

– **Multilingual accessibility**: Projects in UAE and Indonesia specifically addressed language diversity

– **Youth and education**: Several initiatives targeted young people and educational institutions

– **Healthcare digitalization**: Projects addressed health system improvements through technology

– **Government service delivery**: Multiple e-government initiatives streamlined public services

## Conclusion

The WSIS Prizes 2025 ceremony showcased diverse digital initiatives addressing various societal challenges across different regions. The record participation numbers and the range of winning projects demonstrate global engagement in ICT innovation and digital development. The ceremony successfully highlighted practical applications of technology in areas including healthcare, education, government services, cybersecurity, and rural connectivity.

Moderator: Before we begin, just a brief housekeeping rules for photographers. The only two photographers that are allowed to be in front of the first row are the official photographers. Please do not go in front of the first row. With this being said, also in the middle aisle, in the central aisle, with this being said, ladies and gentlemen, once again, good morning and welcome to the WSIS Prizes 2025 Winner’s Ceremony. It is a pleasure to welcome you today as we gather to recognize and celebrate the groundbreaking ICT innovations that are driving progress across WSIS action lines.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for contributing for the successful WSIS Prizes nominations. We received a record number of more than 970 submissions to the WSIS Prizes 2025, representing more than 107 countries with over 2 million broadcasts online. So thank you so much for making this project a very vibrant one and for giving it all your commitment and support. This has demonstrated the dynamism, the creativity, and the commitment for inclusive digital development.

Moderator: Indeed, Gitanjali, what an incredible achievement. These numbers speak volumes about the dedication of the WSIS multi-stakeholder community to harnessing digital technologies in driving development. Before we continue with the ceremony, we would like to welcome to the stage our Distinguished Secretary General, Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, who will present the awards to this year’s outstanding winners. Please join me in warmly welcoming Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin. Thank you. As we are ready to start, we would like to ask everyone to take your seats. Please take your seats as we are about to start the WSIS Action Line Category 1.

Gitanjali Sah: Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready? In the WSIS Action Line Category 1, the role of governments and all stakeholders in promoting ICTs for development, the five champions, the runners-up are presented on the screen. We would like to congratulate all the champions for Action Line C1. And the winner is, in the WSIS Action Line Category 1, the role of governments and all stakeholders in promoting ICTs for development, Situational Analytical Complex by Engineering and Technical Center of the President’s Affair Administration from Kazakhstan. On behalf of the Engineering and Technical Center, Mr. Doreen Noraliyev is joined by the Secretary General to receive the award.

Session video 1: Real-time dashboards and predictive models, SAC alerts managers to potential issues. Developed by Kazakhstan’s Engineering and Technical Center, SAC represents our vision for the future, a digital ecosystem ready to scale from Kazakhstan to the world.

Gitanjali Sah: Mr. Doreen, we would like to invite you to the lectern to please deliver your winning speech.

Dauren Nuraliyev: Thanks. It’s pretty heavy. Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, we are deeply grateful. It’s wonderful to be here, that’s why we’re really happy. It’s a great honor for us to get this kind of international recognition. That’s why the situation is a little complex. It shows Kazakhstan’s focus on technology and, you know, is working together openly. We want to say thank you to WSIS, ITU, all the other partners for the trust and support. We are proud to help build on a shared digital future. Barluqtarnzakubrahmet, which means in Kazakh language, many thanks again.

Moderator: Congratulations. Congratulations for the winner from Kazakhstan. And we are now moving to the WSIS Action Line C2 Information and Communication Infrastructure. Join me in applauding and recognizing the five champions in the category ICT Infrastructure. The winner in WSIS Action Line Category 2 is Internet para todos by Telefónica del Perú from Peru. We would like to invite Ms. Teresa Gomez to receive the award on behalf of the winner.

Session video 2: In many communities in Peru, the Internet is still a distant dream. Internet for All works to make that dream a reality. We have connected almost 4 million people in more than 19,000 rural communities. And we will continue working to close the digital gap in every corner of the country.

Teresa Gomez: Good morning. Thank you. Thank you, ITU. This is a great honor, and I deeply appreciate this recognition. Access to Internet shouldn’t be a privilege. Access to the Internet is a fundamental right. That opens doors to innovation, education, better living conditions, new opportunities, and equity. These awards belong to the rural communities that dare to believe in a better future for themselves and for their children. Thanks to IPT, team, stakeholders, and partners for making dreams come true. Let’s keep working to ensure no one is left behind. Thanks.

Gitanjali Sah: Congratulations, and now we move on to Action Line C3. The finalists for the WSIS Action Line Category C3, Access to Information and Knowledge, are… And the winner in WSIS Action Line C3, Access to Information and Knowledge, is Digital Awareness Program by Nigeria, Nigeria Communications Commission. We would like to invite you on stage, sir.

Session video 3: The number of email dropouts has gone down. Students no longer have to travel long distances just to register for exams. I just have to warn anyone coming after me that it is actually quite heavy, so be careful.

Speaker 1: Good morning, distinguished guests, your excellencies. I’m truly honored to accept this recognition on behalf of the NCC. My sincere appreciation goes to the ITU, our hosts, and the WSIS organizers. The Digital Awareness Program is a cornerstone of our efforts to promote digital inclusion in Nigeria. Through the Digital Awareness Program, we have been equipping public schools, mostly rural, underserved, and unserved areas for the past 20 years, providing them with digital infrastructure, in the process enabling thousands of secondary school students to access the digital tools they need for learning, innovation, and to have an opportunity. This recognition is more than a celebration of the past, it’s also an encouragement for us to push forward. And we truly appreciate this opportunity to be recognized, and we do promise we will even do more in the future to promote digital access. Thank you very much.

Moderator: Congratulations for the winners from Nigeria. We’re now moving to the WSIS Extra Line C4 Capacity Building. The runner-ups and champions in the Capacity Building category are presented on the screen. Let’s give them a nice applause. The winner in the Capacity Building category for 2025 is… The National Information Dissemination Centre by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission from Malaysia. Congratulations! We would like to invite His Excellency Mr. Datuk Fahmi Fazil, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications, to receive the award.

Session video 4: This is NADI, the National Information Dissemination Centre, empowering communities with digital access, entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, well-being and timely government information. Even in remote and underserved areas including islands, communities will now be connected. NADI, empowering communities together.

Datuk Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzli: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply honoured to accept this WSIS Prize on behalf of Malaysia. The NADI Digital Inclusion Project in Pulau Banggi reflects our commitment that no one, not even those in the most remote regions, should be left behind in this digital era. This award belongs to the communities who have embraced digital skills for a better future, and to all Malaysians driving our vision of an inclusive, connected nation. Thank you, WSIS and the ITU, for this global recognition. Terima kasih.

Gitanjali Sah: We move on to WSIS Action Line C5, and in this category we’ve had like really tough competition, giving us two winners for this category, first time ever. The first winner in WSIS Action Line, there you go, you have the shortlisted projects, the champions. Congratulations to all the champions. And the first winner in WSIS Action Line C5, Building Confidence and Security in the Use of ICT.

Session video 5: The Anti-Online Scam Operations Centre is a 24-7 one-stop service for reporting online crimes and suspending suspicious transactions in real time. Using AI to analyse financial records, phone activity and suspicious transactions, AOC went forward promptly forwarded cases to the Anti-Money Laundering Office or cryptocurrency service providers. We are firmly committed to dismantling online criminal networks, aiming to ensure no Thai citizen falls victim to online scams.

Prasert Chantararuangthong: Secretary-General of ITU, Distinguished Guests, I am truly honoured to receive the BCCIS Prize 2025 for our project Anti-Online Scam Operations Centre. This award is a great recognition of Thailand’s commitment to building trust and security in the digital age. My sincere thanks to the ITU, everyone who voted and all the dedicated team who make this possible. Let’s continue working together for a safer digital future. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: And the second winner in the WSIS Action Line Category C5, Building Confidence and Security in the Use of ICT, is AI and Facial Recognition Powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Variation by the Centre for Development of Telematics from India. We’d like to welcome Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay to please collect his trophy.

Rajkumar Upadhyay: Good morning everyone, I am deeply honoured to receive the major international award and I would like to thank the selection committee and all the ones who have helped me and supported me during the development of this project. I would also like to thank my organisation Centre for Development of Telematics and Department of Telecom, Government of India who has given me the responsibility to carry out this award winning project. So this award means a lot to my organisation and it has infused a lot of confidence and motivation to my organisation. In all its future endeavours. Thank you.

Moderator: The winner in the VC section line C6 enabling environment is Digitec by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies from South Africa. Congratulations. We would like to invite His Excellency Mr. Soli Malazi, Minister of Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to receive the prize.

Session video 6: Digitec is South Africa’s flagship innovation programme, igniting the power of local ICT SMMEs to solve real world challenges. From Township Tech Labs

Solly Malats: Thank you very much for this award. This award belongs to all the public officials who drive innovation and solutions in the department. So I’d like to dedicate it to Team South Africa, the public officials. This is all your work, be proud of it and thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah: Congratulations South Africa, we move on to Action Line C7 e-Government. The finalists for the WSIS Action Line Category C7 ICT Application e-Government are, congratulations to all of you for being champions this year. And the winner in the WSIS Action Line Category ICT Applications e-Government is TAM AI Assistant, the AI-powered government agent redefining public services by Department of Government Enablement from United Arab Emirates. We’d like to invite the team to the stage. Thank you.

Speaker 2: Thank you very much. Indeed, it’s an immense honor to accept the WSIS Prize for E-Government on behalf of the Abu Dhabi government and the UAE. TEM is more than just a digital platform. It embodies our leadership’s vision of an intelligent, responsive, and people-focused government. Every day, TEM effortlessly connects our public to over 1,100 vital government services, turning routine interactions into experiences marked by simplicity, by care, and by ease. Our AI assistant that was just launched back in October 2024 has supported over 700,000 conversations across 90 languages, independently resolving more than a million cases efficiently and effectively, very importantly, without the need for any human intervention. This award truly belongs to the people of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, who continually inspire us to serve them better. It belongs to every public servant whose dedication has brought TEM to life, and it belongs especially to our government partners whose collaboration has turned this vision into reality. Thank you for recognizing our commitment to shaping the future.

Moderator: Congratulations for the winners from United Arab Emirates. In the category E-Government, we are now moving to the Business Action Line ICT Applications E-Business category. The finalists in E-Business category are from Lithuania, Philippines, Iran, Laos, and Belize. Congratulations. And the winner in the category E-Business is from Weeks to Minutes. How Occidental Mindoro Revolutionized Business Permitting by the Department of Information and Communication Technology, Mimaropa Region, from the Philippines. Congratulations. We would like to invite Ms. Emily Delfin to receive the award.

Session video 7: From weeks to minutes, how Occidental Mindoro revolutionized business permitting. Occidental Mindoro, a province rich in agriculture, tourism, and fisheries, has embraced progress through ELGU-BPLS, a DICT-developed system to streamline government processes. In 2024, all 11 LGUs of Occidental Mindoro have adopted ELGU-BPLS. And the results? Faster transactions, more registered businesses, and increased revenue revolutionizing business permit processing.

Emily Delfin: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, On behalf of the Philippines, thank you to the International Telecommunications Union and Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, as well as the WSIS Prizes Committee for this meaningful recognition of our efforts in the Philippines. Mimaropa, a region in the Philippines, is one of the most geographically challenging regions in the Philippines, with island provinces and remote communities. But this is exactly where ICT becomes a game-changer. It breaks barriers, bringing services closer to the people, leaving no one behind. Our ELGU-BPLS project in Occidental Mindoro proves this. It streamlined processes, cut red tape, and made business services accessible even in the farthest towns. This award fuels our resolve to expand ICT services across the country, because while geography may divide us, technology brings us together. To the Philippines, Philippines, the DICT family, and all our partners. This award is for you. And thank you so much. Pabuhay po ang Pilipinas at maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.

Gitanjali Sah: Your trophy. Congratulations, Philippines. And we move on to Action Line C7 eLearning. The finalists in the eLearning category are Canada, UAE, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore. And the winner in WSIS Action Line Category ICT Application eLearning is Madaracity Learning Management System by Ministry of Education from Saudi Arabia. We welcome Dr. Khaled Al Asfaw to the stage along with his colleagues.

Session video 8: In every classroom, city and village across the kingdom, Madaracity is redefining education digitally, inclusively and effectively, serving over 10 million users. It delivers an end-to-end learning journey, virtual classrooms, interactive courses, real-time dashboards, and access for all, anytime, anywhere.

Khalid Al Asfour: Ladies and gentlemen, it’s with great pride and appreciation to stand in front of you today to celebrate this remarkable achievement. This recognition is not merely a testament to a digital platform. It’s an attribute to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to innovation, education and digital transformation as envisioned in our national vision 2030. This success reflects intensive and continuous efforts by the Ministry of Education to empower and prepare future generations to compete globally in a knowledge-based society via provision of inclusive, accessible, to a robust, resilient, high quality educational ecosystem. Thank you.

Moderator: Congratulations for the winners from Saudi Arabia. We are moving to the Business Action Line ICT applications e-Health. Let’s all give applause for the champions in this category. The winner in the category e-Health is a new era in Zanzibar’s health care, the game-changing role of digital unique IDs by Pharmaccess from Tanzania. We would like to invite His Excellency Nasr Rahman Mazrui, Minister of Health of Zanzibar.

Session video 9: In Zanzibar, a digital revolution is transforming health care and lives. With the Matibabu card, 92% of the population now have a unique ID unlocking access to care and real-time health data. Through partnership with the government and Pharmaccess, 268 facilities improved care and 312,000 households were met. In its first year, health insurance reached 18% of the population, targeting the most vulnerable, a replicable sustainable model. Designed for Impact, Power and Welfare in the Nation

Nassor Ahmed Mazrui: On behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Minister of Health from Zanzibar accompanied by my Minister of Health from Tanzania Honourable Jerry Williams-Slar the Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology Together we are receiving this award for Tanzania I am profoundly honoured to receive this prestigious recognition as the winner in the e-Health category of the WSIS Prizes 2025 I extend my sincere gratitude to the World Summit on the Information Society and the International Telecommunication Union for the championing innovation that advances digital transformations across the globe This milestone was made possible by strong leadership, strong partnership and commitment and a shared ambition to ensure no one is left behind I especially wish to recognise the invaluable partnership with Pharma Access whose technical support and innovation have been instrumental in rolling out the CARDI Yamatibabu system in Zanzibar To all our partners, collaborators and frontline health workers this award is yours as much as it is ours It symbolises the power of working together to transform challenges into opportunities and to build a resilient health system for future generations We accept this honour with deep humility and renewed determination to keep pushing boundaries, bridging gaps and delivering quality healthcare for all Asante Nisana, thank you very much

Gitanjali Sah: Congratulations Tanzania. Action Line C7 E-Employment. And the champions are Cabo Verde, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Guinea and Senegal. And the winner in WSIS Action Line Category ICT Applications E-Employment is the Graduate Employment Ranking by Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population from Azerbaijan. We invite Mr. Salahov to please come and collect his award.

Session video 10: The goal of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection’s digital social services is to provide fast and innovative solutions. The Graduate Employment Ranking platform is a groundbreaking initiative that connects education with employment. Covering data from over 100,000 graduates across 30 universities and more than 300 specialties, it provides detailed insights into job market trends, salary levels and employment outcomes. By helping students make informed career choices and supporting national education planning, the platform strengthens the connection between talent and opportunity. Empowering choices, enabling futures.

Orkhan Salahov: Ladies and gentlemen, we are truly honoured to accept the first WSIS award on behalf of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. A proud moment for us and our country. What we do, we do for our people. As mentioned in the video, let’s empower choices to enable futures. Thank you for WSIS community, our partners and all who contribute to us. Thank you, thank you very much.

Moderator: Azerbaijan we are moving to the this is action line e-environment the champions five champions five runner-ups in this category are presented on the screen out of these five one is the winner the winner in e-environment category is rapid accurate and secure production dissemination and communication of early warning for meteorological disaster by china academy of information and communication technologies congratulations we would like to invite mr yu xianghou president of the china academy of information and communication technology to receive the award

Yu Xiaohui: so good morning excellency ladies and gentlemen it’s a great honor to receive this prize thank you at you thank you mr uh the secretary general cict and the pmsc are proud to participate the u.n’s early warning for our initiative when disaster strike no one should be left on word our system can deliver near real-time alerts to people at risk now is becoming part of china’s national infrastructure thank you very much

Gitanjali Sah: Congratulations, sir. That’s a great achievement. We are now moving on to WSIS Action Line C7 e-Agriculture. The finalists for the WSIS Action Line ICT Applications e-Agriculture are on the screen. And we’d like to announce the winner. Are you ready? The winner is WSIS Action Line Category ICT Application e-Agriculture is Agricultural Market Information System by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest from Bhutan. We would like to invite Ambassador Excellency Wang Chuk to please collect the award on their behalf.

Session video 11: The Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives of Bhutan have developed the Agricultural Marketing Information System, AMIS, which has both the web and app versions. Through the AMIS, the price of agricultural produce can be known by the users from any part of the country. The AMIS helps the farmers and the small and medium enterprises to make pricing decisions and has the price analysis feature. This helps to enhance agricultural marketing and benefit farmers on a daily basis.

Tenzin Rondel Wangchuk: Well, thank you very much. Thank you to the ITU for giving us this award. I would like to dedicate this award to all the farmers in Bhutan and farmers around the world for feeding us every day. Thank you very much to ITU.

Moderator: Thank you, Excellency. We also have an appreciation message from Bhutan, which is being played on the screen from the Minister.

Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho: We are deeply honoured to have been recognised by the World Summit on Information Society for our effort on Agricultural Market Information System in Bhutan. This system helps the Ministry…

Moderator: Once again, congratulations for the winners from Bhutan and thank the Minister for his video message. We are now moving to the business action line, ICT applications, e-science. The champions in e-science are coming from Saudi Arabia, Haiti, Chile, United States of America and Tanzania. Out of these five champions, the winner is improving brain prostatitis as a strategy to reduce the adverse effects of aging on the cognitive decline of the elderly by the biomedical neuroscience institute, University of Chile. Congratulations. On behalf of the winner, Mr. Francisco Carvalho, representative from the mission to UN is receiving the award.

Francisco Carvalho: Although the winner and the leader of the project, Professor Claudia Hatz, will not be with us today. She shared the video message with us.

Claudio Hatz: Our team from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Chile. So the idea of this project was to develop technologies to reduce the adverse effects of aging on the elderly. This is based on the concept that aging is the main risk factor to develop most of the chronic diseases affecting the human population. So we think that strategies that alter and improve the quality of life are the best.

Gitanjali Sah: Congratulations, we’ll move on to Action Line C8. The finalists for WSIS Action Line Category C8, Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity and Local Content, are on the screen there. Latvia, Indonesia, India, China, and South Africa. And the winner in the WSIS Action Line Category C8, Cultural Diversity, is Empowering Youth Through Digital Innovation, Enhancing Capacity, Opportunities, and Participation in Civic Life by Bababev from Indonesia.

Session video 12: In Indonesia, young people face barriers to civic participation. Their voices are often unheard, but we’re changing that. Led by a network of women-led NGOs, we’ve created a digital first movement that reaches youth, policymakers, and communities. With digital competitions and in-person dialogues, held in local languages, we can voice our opinions and inspire real change.

Speaker 3: The Honorable IT Secretary General, Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, fellow winners, and most importantly, Indonesian young people. Basah Ibu is accepting this award on behalf of young people who are using digital technology to speak out about civic issues, who are improving their well-being and their communities. It is truly an honor from the global community. We thank Fondation Botnar for their support, along with Indonesian government at all levels, community leaders, educators, parents, and especially young

Moderator: Congratulations for the winner in Visis Action Line Cultural Diversity. We are now moving to the Visis Action Line Media. The finalists are listed on the screen. Congratulations to the five finalists and champions. And the winner in the Visis Action Line Category Media is Girls Speak Out by USAVA Institute from Zimbabwe. Congratulations. We would like to invite His Excellency Ms. Ever Milo to join Secretary General together with the Minister from Zimbabwe. Thank you.

Session video 13: In Zimbabwe, for every 100 boys with digital skills, only 65 girls have the same. Across Africa, women make up just 26% of the AI workforce. This isn’t just a game. It’s a future we have to hold. At Girls Speak Out, we are changing the script, giving girls the tools to write their own code, co-create solutions, and rise together on their own terms. We are not waiting for the future. We are building it.

Amon Murwira: Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished guests, partners in progress, and fellow advocates for digital transformation. I stand before you with profound humility to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the USAVA Institute. This recognition is not merely accolade. It is a testament. to the tireless dedication of FUSAWA in bridging digital divides and turning the ideals of WSIS into tangible realities for Zimbabwe. Thank you, ITU. Thank you, Secretary General. Thank you very much.

Moderator: Although the winner and the leader of the project from Zimbabwe, Ms. Anoziva Marindre, will not be with us today, she has shared a video message.

Anoziva Marindire: On behalf of the FUSAWA Institute, we are deeply humbled and honoured to accept this WSIS prize for our Girls Speak Out program in the media category. This recognition truly belongs to the brilliant young women in our program. Their courage is powered by our incredible volunteer trainers, staff and partners who ensure this vital work continues. We humbly dedicate this award to our late co-founder, Kelvin Tinashimitze, who designed this really program. His vision for equality continues to guide us all. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Congratulations. We move on to the category C10. It’s the ethical dimensions of the information society. And the finalists, the champions, are on the screen. Switzerland, Qatar, Cote d’Ivoire, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea. And the winner in WSIS Action Line is Cyber Security Education Curriculum by National Cyber Security Agency from Qatar. We would like to invite Excellency Al Malki, President of the National Cyber Security Agency, to please come and collect the award. Thank you.

Session video 14: The Educational Cybersecurity Curriculum Project is a pioneering initiative in the region. It was launched by the National Cybersecurity Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. More than 280,000 students have participated in educational content at approximately 400 government and private schools, including those for students with special needs. Winning the WISES 2025 award provides enormous encouragement for the National Cybersecurity Agency to continue developing the project and sharing its achievements with other countries.

Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki: Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor to receive today the WISES Award 2025 from the ITU for our Cybersecurity Curriculum Project in Qatar. This recognition highlights our commitment to enhance cyber resilience and empower the next generation with essential cybersecurity skills. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the ITU and all our partners who have supported us in this journey. Together we are shaping a safer digital future. Thank you for your trust and your support.

Moderator: the business action line international regional cooperation the champions in category c11 are coming from unica nicaragua kenya germany and malaysia the winner in the international and regional cooperation is one health data alliance africa by the german development agency from germany congratulations we would like to invite dr kirsten grosse frie to receive the award from the secretary

Session video 15: general so we have a lot of activity regarding how we can improve people working together to ensure that health risks are well managed at the environmental public health animal so partnerships are key no one single person no one single institution is going to realize the dreams we have we have to work together and i therefore thank giz and bmz for supporting aui bar

Kirstin Grosse Frie: what a day i really want to appreciate the world summit on information society we want to thank everyone our partners our contributors the experts that have contributed to the success of the one health data alliance africa we really appreciate the expertise the collaboration the working together that you all are brought together to make today possible this prize that we have today is testament to how the hard work to how the deliberations to how the good things that you’ve been working together this prize is for you thank you very much

Gitanjali Sah: That brings us to the end of the prize ceremony for WSIS Prizes 2025, a big round of applause for all the winners and the champions, and we’d like to invite the winners to join Secretary General on the stage for a group photograph, please, with your trophy, if you could please bring your trophy as well for a group photograph with the Secretary General.

Moderator: Once again, all the winners are invited to join Secretary General on the stage for the group photo, and let the music begin. Once again, all the winners are invited to join Secretary General on the stage for a group photograph, please, with your trophy, if you could please bring your trophy as well for the Secretary General on the stage for the group photograph, please, with your trophy, Congratulations to the WSIS Prizes 2025 winners. There are two important announcements. Everyone from this room is now invited for the official WSIS Forum Exhibition Inauguration Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, which will take place in front of this room. So please, everyone, join us with the Secretary General cutting the ribbon at the WSIS Wall. The ceremony starts in five minutes. Another important announcement for those invited for the high-level lunch at the Hilton Hotel, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ITU. Please note that the Hilton Hotel is a 10-minute walk, or there is a shuttle service available in front of the venue.

Agreement points

Digital inclusion and ensuring no one is left behind

Speakers

– Teresa Gomez
– Datuk Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzli
– Emily Delfin
– Nassor Ahmed Mazrui

Arguments

Access to Internet is a fundamental right that opens doors to innovation, education, and equity

Malaysia’s commitment ensures no one in remote regions is left behind in the digital era

Philippines proves ICT breaks geographical barriers and brings services closer to people in challenging regions

Tanzania’s achievement represents power of partnership and commitment to ensure no one is left behind in healthcare

Summary

Multiple speakers emphasized the fundamental principle that digital access should be universal, with particular focus on reaching remote, rural, and underserved communities regardless of geographical challenges

Topics

Development | Digital access

Importance of partnerships and collaboration for digital transformation success

Speakers

– Dauren Nuraliyev
– Nassor Ahmed Mazrui
– Kirstin Grosse Frie
– Speaker 3

Arguments

International recognition demonstrates Kazakhstan’s focus on technology and open collaboration

Tanzania’s achievement represents power of partnership and commitment to ensure no one is left behind in healthcare

Germany’s success demonstrates importance of partnerships and working together to realize health management dreams

Indonesia accepts award on behalf of young people using digital technology for civic participation

Summary

Speakers consistently highlighted that successful digital initiatives require collaborative partnerships between governments, international organizations, and communities

Topics

Development | Capacity development

Technology as enabler for empowerment and capacity building

Speakers

– Speaker 1
– Khalid Al Asfour
– Orkhan Salahov
– Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki

Arguments

Nigeria’s Digital Awareness Program has equipped public schools in rural areas for 20 years, enabling thousands of students to access digital tools

Saudi Arabia’s platform reflects commitment to innovation and digital transformation under Vision 2030

Azerbaijan’s platform empowers choices to enable futures by connecting education with employment

Qatar’s project enhances cyber resilience and empowers next generation with essential cybersecurity skills

Summary

Speakers agreed that technology serves as a fundamental tool for empowering individuals and communities through education, skills development, and capacity building

Topics

Development | Capacity development | Online education

Similar viewpoints

Large-scale digital infrastructure projects can achieve significant population coverage and impact, particularly in connecting remote and underserved communities

Speakers

– Session video 2
– Session video 4
– Session video 9

Arguments

Peru’s Internet para todos has connected almost 4 million people in over 19,000 rural communities

Malaysia’s NADI project ensures even remote island communities are connected with digital access and services

Tanzania’s Matibabu card system provides 92% of Zanzibar population with unique health IDs, reaching 312,000 households

Topics

Development | Infrastructure | Digital access

Digital government platforms can achieve massive scale and efficiency improvements, serving hundreds of thousands of users while dramatically reducing processing times

Speakers

– Speaker 2
– Session video 7
– Session video 10

Arguments

UAE’s TAM AI Assistant connects public to over 1,100 government services, supporting 700,000+ conversations across 90 languages

Philippines’ ELGU-BPLS system revolutionized business permitting from weeks to minutes across 11 local government units

Azerbaijan’s Graduate Employment Ranking platform covers data from 100,000+ graduates across 30 universities

Topics

Development | Digital access

Recognition and success should be attributed to the communities, workers, and individuals who benefit from and implement digital solutions rather than just the technology itself

Speakers

– Tenzin Rondel Wangchuk
– Solly Malats
– Amon Murwira

Arguments

Bhutan dedicates recognition to all farmers who feed people every day

South Africa’s innovation belongs to public officials who drive solutions in the department

Zimbabwe’s program bridges digital divides and turns WSIS ideals into tangible realities

Topics

Development

Unexpected consensus

Multilingual and culturally inclusive digital solutions

Speakers

– Speaker 2
– Session video 12

Arguments

UAE’s TAM AI Assistant connects public to over 1,100 government services, supporting 700,000+ conversations across 90 languages

Indonesia’s digital-first movement reaches youth through competitions and dialogues in local languages

Explanation

Despite coming from very different contexts (UAE’s government services and Indonesia’s youth empowerment), both initiatives prioritized multilingual accessibility, showing unexpected consensus on the importance of linguistic diversity in digital solutions

Topics

Development | Multilingualism

Gender equality as critical component of digital development

Speakers

– Session video 13
– Speaker 3

Arguments

Zimbabwe’s Girls Speak Out addresses gap where only 65 girls have digital skills for every 100 boys

Indonesia accepts award on behalf of young people using digital technology for civic participation

Explanation

The explicit focus on gender equality in digital skills emerged as an unexpected area of consensus, with programs specifically designed to address gender disparities and empower women and girls in technology

Topics

Gender rights online | Development

Overall assessment

Summary

The WSIS Prizes 2025 ceremony demonstrated strong consensus around core principles of digital inclusion, universal access, collaborative partnerships, and technology as an empowerment tool. Speakers consistently emphasized reaching underserved communities, the importance of partnerships, and using technology for capacity building.

Consensus level

High level of consensus with significant implications for global digital development policy. The unanimous focus on inclusion and partnership suggests a mature understanding of digital transformation requirements and strong alignment on fundamental principles across diverse geographical and cultural contexts.

Different viewpoints

Unexpected differences

Overall assessment

Summary

This transcript represents a WSIS Prizes 2025 award ceremony where speakers presented their winning projects and achievements. There were no disagreements identified among speakers as each presenter focused on describing their own country’s or organization’s digital initiatives and accomplishments.

Disagreement level

No disagreement detected. This was a ceremonial event where speakers shared their success stories and thanked organizers rather than engaging in debate or discussion of conflicting viewpoints. All speakers expressed gratitude for recognition and emphasized similar themes of digital inclusion, bridging digital divides, and using technology for development purposes.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Large-scale digital infrastructure projects can achieve significant population coverage and impact, particularly in connecting remote and underserved communities

Speakers

– Session video 2
– Session video 4
– Session video 9

Arguments

Peru’s Internet para todos has connected almost 4 million people in over 19,000 rural communities

Malaysia’s NADI project ensures even remote island communities are connected with digital access and services

Tanzania’s Matibabu card system provides 92% of Zanzibar population with unique health IDs, reaching 312,000 households

Topics

Development | Infrastructure | Digital access

Digital government platforms can achieve massive scale and efficiency improvements, serving hundreds of thousands of users while dramatically reducing processing times

Speakers

– Speaker 2
– Session video 7
– Session video 10

Arguments

UAE’s TAM AI Assistant connects public to over 1,100 government services, supporting 700,000+ conversations across 90 languages

Philippines’ ELGU-BPLS system revolutionized business permitting from weeks to minutes across 11 local government units

Azerbaijan’s Graduate Employment Ranking platform covers data from 100,000+ graduates across 30 universities

Topics

Development | Digital access

Recognition and success should be attributed to the communities, workers, and individuals who benefit from and implement digital solutions rather than just the technology itself

Speakers

– Tenzin Rondel Wangchuk
– Solly Malats
– Amon Murwira

Arguments

Bhutan dedicates recognition to all farmers who feed people every day

South Africa’s innovation belongs to public officials who drive solutions in the department

Zimbabwe’s program bridges digital divides and turns WSIS ideals into tangible realities

Topics

Development

Key takeaways

The WSIS Prizes 2025 achieved record-breaking global participation with over 970 submissions from 107+ countries and 2+ million online broadcasts, demonstrating unprecedented engagement in digital development initiatives

Digital inclusion and bridging the digital divide emerged as the central theme, with winners consistently emphasizing that access to digital technologies should be a fundamental right, not a privilege

Successful digital transformation requires strong partnerships and multi-stakeholder collaboration, as evidenced by projects spanning government agencies, private sector, NGOs, and international organizations

Rural and underserved communities were the primary beneficiaries of winning projects, with initiatives specifically targeting remote areas, islands, and marginalized populations to ensure ‘no one is left behind’

AI and advanced technologies are being successfully deployed for public good, including real-time fraud detection, predictive analytics, facial recognition for security, and automated government services

Digital government services are revolutionizing public administration, with projects demonstrating dramatic improvements in service delivery (from weeks to minutes for business permits) and citizen engagement

Education and capacity building remain critical priorities, with winning projects serving millions of users through digital learning platforms and skills development programs

Cybersecurity and digital safety are essential foundations for digital transformation, requiring comprehensive education and awareness programs alongside technical solutions

Gender equality in digital access requires targeted interventions, as highlighted by projects addressing significant gaps in digital skills between boys and girls

Health digitization and agricultural technology are driving sustainable development, with projects improving healthcare access and farmer livelihoods through digital platforms

Resolutions and action items

Winners committed to expanding their successful projects to reach more communities and scale their impact globally

Continued collaboration with WSIS, ITU, and international partners to share best practices and replicate successful models in other countries

Ongoing development and enhancement of existing digital platforms based on user feedback and technological advances

Dedication to maintaining focus on underserved and rural communities in future digital development initiatives

Commitment to advancing gender equality and youth empowerment through digital technology programs

Unresolved issues

Specific mechanisms for knowledge sharing and collaboration between winning projects were not detailed

Long-term sustainability and funding models for the winning projects were not addressed

Scalability challenges and resource requirements for replicating successful projects in different contexts were not discussed

Measurement and evaluation frameworks for assessing the long-term impact of these digital initiatives were not established

Coordination mechanisms between different countries and organizations implementing similar digital solutions were not defined

Suggested compromises

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Access to Internet shouldn’t be a privilege. Access to the Internet is a fundamental right. That opens doors to innovation, education, better living conditions, new opportunities, and equity.

Speaker

Teresa Gomez (Telefónica del Perú)

Reason

This comment reframes internet connectivity from a commercial service to a human rights issue, elevating the discussion beyond technical achievements to fundamental questions of social justice and equity. It challenges the audience to think about digital infrastructure not just as business or government initiatives, but as essential human needs.

Impact

This statement set a philosophical tone that influenced subsequent speakers to emphasize the human impact of their projects rather than just technical specifications. It established a framework where digital inclusion became the central theme, with later speakers consistently referencing serving underserved communities and ensuring ‘no one is left behind.’

This award belongs to the communities who have embraced digital skills for a better future, and to all Malaysians driving our vision of an inclusive, connected nation.

Speaker

Datuk Ahmad Fahmi bin Mohamed Fadzli (Malaysia)

Reason

This comment shifts the focus from government or institutional achievement to community empowerment and collective ownership. It demonstrates a participatory approach to digital transformation where success is measured by community adoption rather than top-down implementation.

Impact

This perspective influenced the narrative flow by emphasizing that digital transformation is ultimately about people and communities, not just technology. It reinforced the human-centered approach established earlier and encouraged other speakers to acknowledge their beneficiaries and communities more prominently in their acceptance speeches.

While geography may divide us, technology brings us together.

Speaker

Emily Delfin (Philippines)

Reason

This poetic yet profound observation captures the transformative power of ICT in overcoming physical barriers and social divisions. It articulates a core principle of digital inclusion – that technology can be a great equalizer that transcends traditional limitations.

Impact

This comment provided a unifying theme that resonated throughout the remaining presentations, with speakers from various countries echoing similar sentiments about technology bridging gaps and connecting communities. It helped establish a shared vision among the diverse group of winners about technology’s role in creating more equitable societies.

I would like to dedicate this award to all the farmers in Bhutan and farmers around the world for feeding us every day.

Speaker

Tenzin Rondel Wangchuk (Bhutan)

Reason

This simple yet powerful dedication shifts attention from the technology itself to the people it serves, specifically recognizing the often-overlooked contribution of farmers globally. It demonstrates how digital solutions should ultimately serve and honor the fundamental human activities they support.

Impact

This heartfelt dedication brought a moment of genuine human connection to the ceremony, reminding all participants that behind every digital innovation are real people whose lives and livelihoods are being impacted. It influenced the tone of subsequent speeches to be more personal and community-focused rather than purely technical or institutional.

Overall assessment

These key comments fundamentally shaped the discussion by transforming what could have been a purely technical showcase into a meaningful dialogue about digital equity, human rights, and community empowerment. Teresa Gomez’s framing of internet access as a fundamental right established the philosophical foundation, while subsequent speakers built upon this theme by emphasizing community ownership, geographic inclusion, and recognition of end beneficiaries. The comments created a cascading effect where each speaker felt compelled to address not just what their technology does, but who it serves and why that matters for human dignity and social justice. This elevated the entire ceremony from a technical awards presentation to a collective commitment to inclusive digital transformation.