17/09/2026
Tomorrow in New York: the UN system on how it works together on digital 🌐
UNGIS: Stronger Together – Advancing Digital Cooperation Across the UN System
📅 Friday, 18 September 2026
🕓 10:00–11:15 New York (EDT) | 16:00–17:15 Geneva (CEST)
📍 Amartya Sen Conference Room, UNDP Headquarters, and online
Since the adoption of the WSIS+20 Resolution (A/RES/80/173), the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) has set up a Task Force on Strengthening Financial Mechanisms for Digital Development, launched a Multistakeholder Consultation Group, and submitted the Joint Implementation Road Map for WSIS–GDC Coherence to the 29th session of the CSTD. Four new members have also joined: UNICRI, UNODA, UNSSC and UN-OHRLLS.
Tomorrow the discussion moves from process to practice. We'll be asking:
✅ What does UN inter-agency work look like on the ground? Speakers will bring real projects where agencies combined their expertise and got results.
🧭 How does the UN system stay coherent on digital? We'll look at how UNGIS helps agencies pull in the same direction on the WSIS+20 outcomes and the Global Digital Compact.
🤝 Who else needs to be at the table? Member States, the private sector, civil society, academia and the technical community all shape digital development, and we'll hear how their contributions fit together.
💡 How do we make partnerships count? We'll look for ways to share expertise, resources and ideas more effectively as digital challenges keep changing.
🌍 What do countries actually need from the UN? The conversation covers joined-up support on connectivity, digital inclusion, skills, data, AI and other emerging technologies.
Speakers:
🔹 H.E. Ms. Suela Janina, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Albania to the UN
🔹 Ms. Cynthia Lesufi, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of South Africa (remote)
🔹 Ms. Nur Sulyna Abdullah, Chief, Strategic Planning and Membership, and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General, ITU
🔹 Mr. Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer, UNDP
🔹 Mr. Juan José Martinez Badillo, Chief, UNCTAD New York Office
🔹 Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, Senior Advisor, UN Women
🔹 Ms. Stela Mocan, Practice Manager, Digital Government, World Bank
🔹 Mr. Li Zhou, Human Rights Officer, OHCHR
🔹 Mr. Felix Guimard, Economic Affairs Officer, UNECE
Moderated by Ms. Gitanjali Sah, Head, WSIS and Stakeholder Engagement Division, ITU
Register Here:
👉 https://itu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_z9aIpot6R1iBdCQWHfoOxg #/registration
Full session details: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2026/Agenda/Session/602
