Advancing digital inclusion and sustainable development with the Internet Universality ROAM-X Indicators

With the recent escalation of violence online and offline, the world needs an Internet respecting human rights, open without fragmentation, universally connected and accessed by all people around the world more than ever, in order to protect the vulnerable and marginalized and building reconciliation and peace in the war time, as well framed by R.O.A.M principles. Since November 2015, UNESCO recognizes that the ROAM principles (Rights, Openness, Accessibility to all, and Multistakeholder participation) underpin the growth and evolution of the Internet, in ways that are conducive to operationalizing digital cooperation at all levels and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as well as supporting UN global digital compact.

Currently ongoing in 45 countries across five continents, the indicators provide experts of ICTs for sustainable development with tools to strengthen their alignment with the UN SG’s roadmap of digital cooperation and Global Digital Compact for the completion of the SDGs. Through its multi-dimensional lenses and context-based approach, the ROAM-X indicators support the identification of areas of strength as well as gaps in national digital strategies. By understanding what is working, where change is needed and through bench-learning, the framework can enable Member States to develop evidence-based practices and policies to better leverage the Internet in support of their national sustainable development strategies and visions.

Objectives for the participants

• Present the Internet Universality ROAM-X indicators project by UNESCO project focal point and trigger discussion on its relevance to advance inclusive and transformative digital reforms by international experts.
• Provide key outcomes and implementation progress of Internet Universality ROAM-X indicators project by the national leading researchers and actors in 40+ countries, across the five continents, and debate on how to implement those policy recommendations in a transformative manner at national level.
• Share good practice and lessons learned from the methodology and process of the ROAM-X assessment to improve the national assessment process and orient more countries to conduct their voluntary assessment for more sustainable digital environments.
• Encourage synergies and collaboration between ROAM-X project and other initiatives of ICEGOV stakeholders to jointly advance evidence-based policy making via the IGF Dynamic Coalition of ROAM-X.