This course is self-paced and ongoing. There is no closing date, as participants can enrol anytime.
Infrastructure drives effective and functioning economies, contributes to the competitiveness of economies, and aids trade and investment. Inadequate infrastructure is one of the largest constraints to economic development in the developing world and across the Commonwealth. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlights the digital infrastructure gap between the developed and developing world.
New e-learning course
To help educate members of the Commonwealth on ways to address this gap, the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda Physical Connectivity Cluster under the leadership of The Gambia, has developed its first-ever self-paced e-learning course on Digital Infrastructure and the Digital Divide.
The course is introductory level and aims to enable participants to:
- Understand the important role of infrastructure, including digital infrastructure for economic development.
- Evaluate through analysis the impact of the digital infrastructure divide at national, regional and Commonwealth level.
- Identify relevant policy issues for post-COVID-19 recovery to implement digital infrastructure needs at the country level.
Launch webinar
The course was launched with webinar on September 21, 2021 featuring the below speakers. The webinar offered an insight into the course and the wider issues around Digital Infrastructure and the Digital Divide in The Commonwealth.
- The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
- Abdoulie Jammeh, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, The Gambia
- Dr. Rajan Ratna, Deputy Head of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), India
- Max Schulze, Executive Chairman for Sustainable Investment Digital Infrastructure Alliance
- Michelle Chivunga, CEO/Founder/Investor Global Policy House and Senior Government Board Advisor for Government of Bermuda, African Union, B20and WUSME.
- Kirk Haywood, Head of Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda, Commonwealth Secretariat.
- Dr. Radika Kumar, Adviser Infrastructure Policy, Commonwealth Secretariat.
Register
This course is self-paced and ongoing. There is no closing date, as participants can enrol anytime.
Contact
Radika Kumar, Adviser, Infrastructure Policy
Trade, Oceans and Natural Resources Directorate
E-mail | +44 20 7747 6165
