As governments continue to strive to expand their digitalization efforts and increase public service delivery over digital platforms, a number of questions remain important. Is the provision of public services over digital platforms an opportunity to expand delivery of public services and drive adoption of Digital Connectivity across sectors of the economy and society, or is this push one that is in fact creating further divides in access to quality public services? Are all citizens equally connected to digital platforms to benefit from the services provided, and as a result embark on a journey to becoming digital citizens - able to access information, actively participate in civic spaces, create and innovate through digital technology, and demand improved public services?
The reality is that access to affordable and meaningful connectivity remain widely unequal across geographies, especially for the global majority. Digital skills, including the ability to use the Internet in a safely, securely and in a rights respecting manner, continue to be a challenge. And far too many countries lack appropriate laws and policies that protect personal data and guarantee protection and safety online. Can digital public services act as equalizers and an opportunity to expand quality delivery of government services to everyone, including women, the poor, rural and remote, and marginalized populations? Or are digital public services yet another way to exacerbate inequality and further exclude those already on the margins? This session will address these critical questions and provide an opportunity to discuss solutions that lead to greater digital inclusion.
Sonia is the Founder and Executive Director, Strategy and Partnerships of the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), and an experienced leader and international digital policy expert. Sonia had successfully led global coalitions bringing together private sector, governments, and civil society actors from across the globe to deliver the policies needed to reduce the cost to connect and make universal meaningful connectivity a reality for everyone in global majority countries. As a policy advisor and gender equality advocate with experience in over 45 countries, she has led numerous digital policy and development projects in several regions and with international organizations, such as the World Bank, UNDP, UN Women, ITU, and for private sector companies and associations.
Sonia was recognized by apolitical as one of the World’s 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government in 2019. She serves or has served as a member and expert in a number of Committees, including CGAP’s Data Project, DFID’s Digital Access Panel for Africa, the ITU-UN Women EQUALS Partnership, The World Economic Forum’s Future of the Internet Initiative, the Broadband Commission Working Group on the Gender Digital Divide, the Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy (ACICIP) Subcommittee of the U.S. State Department on ICT4D, and the EU-AU Digital Economy Task Force. She is an Independent Board Director with KaiOS Technologies, an Advisory Board member of UNESCO’s Cetic.br Regional Center and a frequent speaker at international, regional and national forums.
Sonia was the co-founder and Executive Director of the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) until September 2022. She has a Masters in Public Policy from Tufts University and degrees in Economics and Business Finance from the University of Massachusetts.
