WSIS Thematic Meeting on Measuring the Information Society

Transcription

1 Statistical Cmmissin Thirty-sixth sessin 1-4 March 2005 Item 7(f) f the prvisinal agenda Infrmatin and cmmunicatin technlgies statistics Backgrund dcument Available in English nly WSIS Thematic Meeting n Measuring the Infrmatin Sciety Prepared by members f the Partnership n Measuring ICT fr Develpment

2 Wrld Summit n the infrmatin Sciety Geneva Tunis 2005 WSIS Thematic Meeting n "Measuring the Infrmatin Sciety" Geneva, 7 9 February 2005 FINAL CONCLUSIONS Wrld Bank ESCWA 1

3 WSIS Thematic Meeting: Measuring the Infrmatin Sciety Geneva, 7-9 February 2005 FINAL CONCLUSIONS 1. The WSIS Thematic Meeting "Measuring the Infrmatin Sciety, rganized by members f the Partnership n Measuring ICT fr Develpment, which includes the ITU, OECD, UNCTAD, UNESCO Institute fr Statistics, UN Reginal Cmmissins (ECA, ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA), the UN ICT Task Frce and the Wrld Bank, tk place in Geneva, Palais des Natins, frm 7 t 9 February The meeting was chaired by Ms. Heli Jeskanen-Sundström, Directr General f Statistics Finland. Vice chair cum rapprteur was Mr. Fred Gault, Directr, Science, Innvatin and Electrnic Infrmatin Divisin f Statistics Canada. 2. The meeting addressed the subject f the statistical measurement f the infrmatin sciety, including a cre list f ICT indicatrs that culd be harmnized at the internatinal level and that all cuntries might cnsider cllecting; the needs f natinal statistical ffices (NSOs) in develping cuntries as regards technical assistance in the cmpilatin f ICT indicatrs; and mechanisms t measure impact and t quantify the relevance and cntributin f ICT twards imprving develpment and achieving the MDGs. 3. The meeting was attended by 270 delegates frm 85 United Natins member cuntries, intergvernmental rganizatins, NGOs and civil sciety. Participants were frm Natinal Statistical Offices, Telecmmunicatin Regulatry Agencies and Ministries, and Ministries related t infrmatin sciety activities. Measuring ICT and the WSIS prcess 4. The Geneva Plan f Actin, adpted by the Wrld Summit n the Infrmatin Sciety (WSIS) in December 2003, in paragraph 28, called upn all cuntries and regins t develp tls t prvide statistical infrmatin n the infrmatin sciety, with basic indicatrs and analysis f its key dimensins. Pririty was t be given t setting up cherent and internatinally cmparable indicatr systems, taking int accunt different levels f develpment. 5. It is the bjective f the Partnership n Measuring ICT fr Develpment t enhance the availability f cmparable data and statistics n infrmatin sciety develpments, in particular in develping cuntries. The rganizatin f this Thematic Meeting was thus a cncrete cntributin t the secnd phase f WSIS and beynd. The meeting addressed tw statistical issues: imprving ICT statistics, and, the next steps fr develping a brader set f statistical indicatrs fr the infrmatin sciety. Glbal ICT indicatrs stcktaking 6. An imprtant pint f departure fr imprving fficial ICT statistics in develping cuntries is t take stck f the current availability f ICT data and indicatrs. While gd infrmatin is available abut the status f ICT statistics in OECD cuntries, very little cmparable data are available abut the situatin in develping cuntries. Therefre, as part f a glbal inventry carried ut in the secnd half f 2004 by varius UN agencies (UNECA, UNECLAC, UNESCAP, UNESCWA and UNCTAD), a metadata questinnaire was sent t NSOs in develping cuntries fcusing n questins related t existing survey vehicles fr ICT data cllectin, natinal demand fr ICT indicatrs, and current availability f and future plans fr the cllectin f indicatrs, primarily fr husehlds and businesses. 7. The stcktaking (with a respnse rate f almst 50 per cent) revealed that many develping cuntries are already cllecting sme ICT indicatrs, but these are ften limited t nly a small number f basic access indicatrs, whereas few cuntries are cllecting ICT usage indicatrs. 2

4 8. Results frm the husehld sectin, prepared by the ITU, shwed that almst all cuntries that respnded t the metadata survey cllect indicatrs relating t ICT availability while fewer n ICT usage. Data fr these indicatrs are mainly cllected thugh a general husehld survey, census, r specific ICT usage surveys. Althugh there are few cuntries that had cnducted the latter, a number f cuntries expressed their plans t cnduct ne in the near future. This is mainly due t the high demand fr husehld ICT access and usage indicatrs. Results als shw that sme develping cuntries need guidelines n hw t define and cllect thse indicatrs and wuld benefit frm cuntries that had success in the area. 9. Results n ICT business indicatrs, prepared by UNCTAD, shwed that abut 60 per cent f respndent cuntries cllect sme indicatrs, largely thrugh established manufacturing surveys r thrugh specific ICT-in-business surveys. Mst f the indicatrs cllected are basic access indicatrs, such as presence f telephne, cmputer and Internet. Indicatrs referring t the use f ICTs by business, such as the types f activities carried ut thrugh the Internet (including purchasing and selling), r barriers t ICT use are less frequent. Hwever, verall demand fr ICT business indicatrs is high, and many NSOs are planning t cllect mre indicatrs in the near future. Asia-Pacific, Central Asia and Central and Eastern Eurpe are the regins cllecting mre indicatrs than thers and facing a high demand fr ICT statistics, fllwed by Latin America and the Caribbean. While few indicatrs are cllected in cuntries f Western Asia, they are the mst active in planning future cllectins. The majrity f African cuntries wh respnded t the questinnaire are LDCs, with few indicatrs cllected despite a high demand at the natinal level. These cuntries clearly need t be targeted by future capacity building prgrammes in the area f ICT statistics. The need fr internatinally cmparable indicatrs prpsal fr a list f cre indicatrs 10. A prpsal fr a cre list f ICT indicatrs that all cuntries might cnsider cllecting was presented by members f the Partnership. The prpsed list was the utcme f an intensive cnsultatin prcess with all NSOs, and with experts in the field f measuring ICT. It cntained three sets f indicatrs: basic ICT infrastructure indicatrs, ICT access and usage by husehlds and individuals, and ICT access and usage by enterprises. The cre list is t be cmplemented by a methdlgical annex. 11. The list f cre indicatrs presented was accepted as an agreed upn utcme f the meeting (see Annex). It will be qualified by a summary f the cmments f the delegates, which this dcument cnstitutes. 12. A number f questins were raised cncerning gender, language f users f the Internet, additinal characteristics f users, such as indigenus status, disability, resident status, and gegraphical lcatin. Questins were als raised abut definitins f the Internet, intranets, extranets, LANS, WANS, and web sites. Language was a cntent issue, which fell within future indicatrs t be develped. Other additinal indicatrs that were prpsed include the use f public pay phnes, trade in ICT services, and mre indicatrs n cmmunity access. It was als felt that bradband indicatrs shuld distinguish between fixed and mbile. Sme f these indicatrs are discussed belw. The ther characteristics and definitins were addressed in the discussin f the husehld and individual indicatrs and the business enterprise indicatrs. Feedback frm the delegates pinted t the need fr mre indicatrs than the cre. 13. There was agreement that such a list f indicatrs: Prvides useful guidance fr cuntries wishing t start cllecting ICT indicatrs; Cnstitutes the starting pint fr develping internatinally cmparable statistics n the infrmatin sciety; Shuld be amended and new plicy-relevant statistical indicatrs added t as experience is gained. 3

5 Methdlgies and mdel questins husehlds 14. ICT indicatrs require substantial crrespnding metadata in rder t be fully defined and then incrprated int statistical cllectin prgrammes f participating cuntries. Presentatins by the OECD and Eurstat, as well as Germany, Singapre and Egypt ffered suggestins n methdlgies and metadata assciated with the cre husehld/individual ICT indicatrs prpsed earlier. The OECD advice bradly cvered: cllectin methdlgies; measurement issues; statistical units; survey scpe and cverage; classificatry variables; and, questin wrding and ther metadata crrespnding t the cre husehld ICT use indicatrs. Discussin pints included: the apprpriate age scpe fr data n ICT use by husehlds/individuals, and whether a gegraphic classificatin and/r an incme variable shuld be included with the metadata. Delegates were invited t prvide cmments n discussin issues t the OECD. 15. The fllwing cnclusins were reached: The OECD s methdlgical suggestins are useful inputs t develping ICT-related husehld questins and shuld be made available t all cuntries. The Eurstat Methdlgical Manual, t be released later this year, will be a useful resurce fr all cuntries measuring ICT use by husehlds and individuals and shuld be made available t all cuntries. Gender infrmatin was prvided as part f fficial statistics and ther characteristics f peple (disabilities, residence status, lcatin ), r f husehlds, culd be develped by individual cuntries. Methdlgies and mdel questins enterprises 16. The presentatins by OECD, Eurstat, Chile, Philippines, UK, Czech Republic, prvided useful suggestins n methdlgies and metadata assciated with the cre business ICT indicatrs discussed earlier, ffering methdlgical guidance n bth the ICT use and ICT sectr indicatrs. In respect f ICT use indicatrs, infrmatin was prvided n: cllectin methdlgies fr surveys f business ICT use; measurement issues; statistical units; survey scpe and cverage; classificatry variables; and, questin wrding and ther metadata crrespnding t the cre indicatrs. In respect f the ICT sectr indicatrs, metadata infrmatin was prvided n: the definitin f the sectr, definitins f terms used in the indicatrs, and the definitin f ICT gds. Delegates were invited t prvide cmments n discussin issues t the OECD. 17. An bservatin that appeared in mre than ne presentatin was the funding f surveys. Part f ensuring the supply f funding was the engagement f the users f the infrmatin, the plicy Ministries, regulatrs, and the data suppliers. In develping cuntries the availability f a reliable business register was a cncern. 18. The fllwing cnclusins resulted frm the debate: The OECD s methdlgical suggestins are useful inputs t develping ICT business mdules and surveys and shuld be made available t all cuntries. The Eurstat Methdlgical Manual will be a useful resurce fr all cuntries measuring ICT use by businesses and shuld be made available t all cuntries. Future and supplementary indicatrs 19. The verarching issue raised was the need t measure the cntributin which the equitable disseminatin and utilizatin f knwledge makes t develpment (ICT impact indicatrs). This takes varius frms, such as the disseminatin f health infrmatin which alters healthcare delivery, the prvisin f e-gvernment services which changes the practice f 4

6 gvernance, and the pprtunity fr Internet users t becme e-cntent prviders, which preserves language and ther aspects f culture. 20. Delegates als addressed the need t knw whether educatin fr ICT usage was available t all grups in sciety, cnnecting schls and libraries t the Internet, supprting life-lng learning and, in rder t develp an ICT skilled ppulatin wh culd use ICT skills at wrk, in their cmmunities and in ther aspects f their lives. 21. Such issues as indigenus status, and language, were matters f significant plicy interest in develping cuntries, and there was supprt fr develping apprpriate indicatrs. 22. Delegates supprted an invitatin t the Partnership t: Bring tgether apprpriate agencies t prepare a plan fr the develpment f new plicyrelevant statistical indicatrs, such as educatin, e-gvernment, r health; and t Intrduce the tpic f indicatrs fr scial develpment and the infrmatin sciety t plicy makers and statisticians attending the statistical meeting that frms part f the Wrld Summit n the Infrmatin Sciety at Tunis. Capacity Building 23. Building capacity in develping cuntries' statistical systems is essential t imprving the prductin f fficial infrmatin sciety statistics and a cre bjective f the Partnership n Measuring ICT fr Develpment. The statistical system is stressed as nt all cuntries have a centralized statistical ffice, r NSO, and statistics may be the respnsibility f plicy ministries, regulatrs, r special agencies utside f the NSO. The Partnership has prepared a cmprehensive framewrk fr ICT statistical capacity building in develping cuntries cvering activities at the natinal, reginal and glbal levels, t be submitted t interested dnr agencies. 24. A useful tl/training material fr develping cuntries' statistical ffices will be the "Guide t Infrmatin Sciety Measurement", a cmprehensive cmpilatin f methdlgies and mdel surveys develped by the OECD s Wrking Party n Indicatrs fr the Infrmatin Sciety. The OECD will cmplete the Guide in time fr the Tunis Summit. The Guide will cntain a nnmember annex, cntaining guidelines abut hw its recmmendatins need t be adapted fr develping cuntries. 25. There are a wide range f internatinal statistical capacity building prgrammes including fr example thse f the Wrld Bank, UNDP, and UNESCO. Paris21 is a vital frum fr the crdinatin f statistical capacity building, and is supprted by many internatinal agencies and bilateral dnrs. The Wrld Bank supprts preparatin f Natinal Strategies fr the Develpment f Statistics (NSDS) thrugh Paris21 and the Trust Fund fr Statistical Capacity Building (TFSCB) as well as investment (thrugh STATCAP) in cmprehensive r sectral natinal statistical capacity building prjects. Natinal prjects n ICT statistics can benefit frm these funds, and ther ICT prjects can als include cmpnents t strengthen capacity in ICT statistics cmpilatin. As part f the Marrakech Actin Plan (MAPS), the Wrld Bank is c-rdinating an internatinal Husehld Survey Netwrk which brings tgether natinal and internatinal agencies wh are invlved in survey planning and which might wish t cnsider addressing the tpic f ICT statistics. 26. Fllwing the wrk n agreeing n a list f cre indicatrs, the Partnership nw needs t becme mre active in the area f specialized training fr ICT measurement. Questins that need t be addressed include, wh t train, criteria fr the selectin f cuntries, as well as hw t cmpile material and administer the needed training. One pssible scenari envisages the cmpilatin f training material by the Partnership in cllabratin with NSOs by using existing materials (such as the OECD Guide) cmbined with input that wuld reflect the reality f the recipient cuntries. In that regard, a special rle is envisaged fr reginal bdies, such as the UN Reginal Cmmissins. 5

7 27. The fllwing cnclusins resulted frm the meeting: The Partnership n Measuring ICT fr Develpment is encuraged t engage in activities t assist the statistical cmmunity in develping cuntries t build, r c-rdinate the building f capacity fr the cllectin f ICT statistics. The internatinal cmmunity is called upn t prvide the necessary supprt t advance the prductin f internatinally cmparable infrmatin sciety statistics in develping cuntries. Capacity building and technical assistance prgrammes shuld cver areas such as methdlgies and definitins, survey implementatin and data cllectin, data verificatin, database develpment and analysis. Capacity building fr ICT shuld be integrated with existing activities in statistical capacity building and fcus n sustainable systems. Training wrkshps shuld be cnducted fr lcal staff invlved in the cllectin f ICT indicatrs; and fr plicy makers and regulatrs t raise awareness abut the imprtance f indicatrs fr mnitring ICT plicies and carrying ut impact analysis. Based n the successful reginal cnsultatins carried ut in preparatin f this meeting, reginal netwrks and technical wrking grups shuld be established r deepened, t advance the develpment n infrmatin sciety indicatrs, t cntinue discussins n indicatrs, mdel questins and survey implementatin at the reginal level and t ensure the harmnisatin f ICT data and statistics acrss cuntries f the regin. Develping cuntries, especially the Least Develped Cuntries, shuld be invlved in internatinal discussins aimed at develping cmmn appraches twards the cllectin f ICT data and statistics and at harmnizing the wrk n ICT indicatrs at the glbal level. Internatinally agreed indicatrs and definitins shuld be used as a basis fr data cllectin t increase cmparability between cuntries. Cllabratin between different ICT players in the cuntry is crucial in the cllectin and disseminatin f ICT statistics. ICT plicy makers and regulatrs shuld liaise with their statistical ffice t ensure that required data are cllected. ICT Indicatrs and MDG Benchmarking and Mnitring 28. In additin t ICT access and use indicatrs, ICT impact indicatrs are an essential tl fr the plicy and develpment planning prcess. 29. Impact indicatrs are a lng-term prcess, nnetheless the planning, develpment and design f ICT impact indicatrs needs t be factred in during the earliest measurement planning stages. The Wrld Bank M&E tl kit prvides a useful tl fr cuntries in develping their measurement framewrk fr mnitring the implementatin and impacts f their natinal e- strategies. Other internatinal rganizatins and interested cuntries were invited t partner with the Wrld Bank and (1) expand and disseminate the tlkit, in particular in nn-english languages, and (2) use it in a sample f pilt cuntries. Further mdules f the tlkit, as well as the results f the partnerships mentined abve, wuld be presented at WSIS in Tunis. 30. The fllwing cnclusins resulted frm the debate: Even thugh evidence f ICT catalyzing develpment is widespread, there is a need t frmalize the link between ICT and the develpment agenda, ntably the achievement f the MDGs, especially with regards t measurement. 6

8 Cuntries may need t develp ICT impact indicatrs first at the natinal level. Develping cuntries have a particularly imprtant need t g beynd baseline ICT indicatrs and assess hw ICT is furthering develpment. SCAN ICT is an imprtant initiative in this area. There is a need fr a mre frmalized mechanism fr sharing evidence n ICT impact n develpment. T this end, the UN ICT Task Frce will cntinue the cmpilatin f case studies with ICT impact indicatrs analysis. The WSIS glbal stcktaking database will als be an imprtant mechanism fr sharing lessns learned in develping an infrmatin sciety. Glbal cmpsite indices are a useful tl in measuring prgress ver time tward an infrmatin sciety at the natinal level but need t be carefully designed and applied when cnsidering rankings and reginal/natinal variances. The pssibility f develping a "Digital Opprtunity Index" based n the cre set f indicatrs defined during this WSIS Thematic Meeting will be further discussed at the WSIS Thematic Meeting n "Multistakehlder Partnerships fr Bridging the Digital Divide", t be held in Seul, 9-10 June Sme rganizatins have undertaken effrts t measure ICT impact n develpment. It will be imprtant t further cllabratin and sharing f lessns learned n each f these initiatives as part f mving frward t cnslidating a framewrk n measurement f the infrmatin sciety. WSIS Tunis and beynd the future f the Partnership The utcme f this Thematic Meeting shuld be brught t the attentin f delegates attending the WSIS PrepCm2, t be held in Geneva frm 17 t 25 February 2005, fr cnsideratin in the final dcuments resulting frm Tunis. The mentining f the Partnership and its wrk n indicatrs in the existing draft dcument prepared by the Grup f the Friends f the Chair (GFC) fr discussin at the PrepCm2 is welcmed, and the relevant paragraph shuld be supprted. A WSIS Tunis side event n measuring the infrmatin sciety shuld reprt n prgress made since this Thematic Meeting, in particular as regards the amendment f the cre list f indicatrs t include ther relevant sectrs, such as educatin, e-gvernment r health. Members f the UN Statistical Cmmissin shuld be infrmed f the results f this Thematic Meeting, at their next meeting in March The Partnership n Measuring ICT fr Develpment shuld cntinue its valuable wrk n imprving the availability f infrmatin sciety indicatrs in develping cuntries by addressing its three main bjectives: Further elabratin n a cmmn list f cre ICT indicatrs including n ther relevant sectrs (such as culture, educatin, e-gvernment, health); Assisting develping cuntries in their statistical wrk n ICT indicatrs; and Building an internatinal database n ICT indicatrs and making it available n the Internet. 7

9 ANNEX: CORE LIST OF ICT INDICATORS Infrastructure and access cre indicatrs Basic cre A-1 Fixed telephne lines per 100 inhabitants A-2 Mbile cellular subscribers per 100 inhabitants A-3 Cmputers per 100 inhabitants A-4 Internet subscribers per 100 inhabitants A-5 Bradband Internet subscribers per 100 inhabitants A-6 Internatinal Internet bandwidth per inhabitant A-7 Percentage f ppulatin cvered by mbile cellular telephny A-8 Internet access tariffs (20 hurs per mnth), in US$, and as a percentage f per capita incme A-9 Mbile cellular tariffs (100 minutes f use per mnth), in US$, and as a percentage f per capita incme A-10 Percentage f lcalities with public Internet access centres (PIACs) by number f inhabitants (rural/urban) Extended cre A-11 Radi sets per 100 inhabitants A-12 Televisin sets per 100 inhabitants 8

10 Cre indicatrs n access and use f ICTs by husehlds and individuals Basic cre HH-1 Prprtin f husehlds with a radi HH-2 Prprtin f husehlds with a TV HH-3 Prprtin f husehlds with a fixed line telephne HH-4 Prprtin f husehlds with a mbile cellular telephne HH-5 Prprtin f husehlds with a cmputer HH-6 Prprtin f individuals that used a cmputer (frm any lcatin) in the last 12 mnths HH-7 Prprtin f husehlds with Internet access at hme HH-8 Prprtin f individuals that used the Internet (frm any lcatin) in the last 12 mnths HH-9 HH-10 Lcatin f individual use f the Internet frm all lcatins in the last 12 mnths Respnse categries: At hme At wrk Place f educatin At anther persn s hme Free Public Internet Access Centre (specific denminatin depends n natinal practices) Charged Public Internet Access Centre (specific denminatin depends n natinal practices) Others Internet activities undertaken by individuals in the last 12 mnths Respnse categries: Fr getting infrmatin Abut gds r services Related t health r health services Frm gvernment rganisatins/public authrities via websites r Other infrmatin r general Web brwsing Fr cmmunicating Purchasing r rdering gds r services Internet banking r ther financial services Fr educatin and learning Fr dealing with gvernment rganisatins/public authrities Fr leisure activities Playing/dwnlading vide r cmputer games Obtaining mvies, music r sftware Reading/dwnlading electrnic bks, newspapers r magazines Other leisure activities Extended cre HH-11 Prprtin f individuals with use f a mbile telephne HH-12 Prprtin f husehlds with access t the Internet by type f access frm hme Respnse categries shuld allw an aggregatin t narrwband and bradband, where bradband will exclude slwer speed technlgies, such as dial-up mdem, ISDN and mst 2G mbile phne access, and which will usually result in a speed f at least 256 kbit/s. HH-13 Frequency f individual access t the Internet in the last 12 mnths (frm any lcatin) Respnse categries: at least nce a day at least nce a week but nt every day at least nce a mnth but nt every week less than nce a mnth Reference indicatr HH-R1 Prprtin f husehlds with electricity 1 1. Since electricity is nt specifically an ICT cmmdity, but imprtant nevertheless fr develping cuntries prerequisite fr using ICT, it is nt included in the cre list, but included as a reference indicatr, just like the number f husehlds, ppulatin, GDP etc. will be. 9

11 Cre indicatrs n access and use f ICTs by businesses Basic cre B-1 Prprtin f businesses using cmputers B-2 Prprtin f emplyees using cmputers B-3 Prprtin f businesses using the Internet B-4 Prprtin f emplyees using the Internet B-5 Prprtin f businesses with a website (r web presence where the business has cntrl ver the cntent) B-6 Prprtin f businesses with an intranet B-7 Prprtin f businesses receiving rders ver the Internet B-8 Prprtin f businesses placing rders ver the Internet Extended cre B-9 Prprtin f businesses accessing the Internet by mdes f access Respnse categries shuld allw an aggregatin t narrwband and bradband, where bradband will exclude slwer speed technlgies, such as dial-up mdem, ISDN and mst 2G mbile phne access, and which will usually result in a speed f at least 256 kbit/s. B-10 Prprtin f businesses with a Lcal Area Netwrk (LAN) B-11 Prprtin f businesses with an extranet B-12 Prprtin f businesses using the Internet by type f activity Respnse categries: Internet Getting infrmatin Abut gds r services Frm gvernment rganisatins/public authrities via websites r Other infrmatin searches r research activities Perfrming Internet banking r accessing ther financial services Dealing with gvernment rganisatins/public authrities Prviding custmer services Delivering prducts nline ICT sectr basic cre ICT-1 Prprtin f ttal wrkfrce invlved in the ICT sectr ICT-2 Value added in the ICT sectr (as a percentage f ttal value added) ICT-3 ICT gds imprts as percentage f ttal imprts ICT-4 ICT gds exprts as percentage f ttal exprts 10