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Digital solutions for a circular electronics value chain: A thought paper for International E-Waste Day 2021

Yondeen Sherpa, Deepali Sinha

Geneva; Brussels: ITU; WEEE Forum; GSMA; Sofies Group (2021), 38 pp.

"This paper has shown the diverse application of digital technologies across the electronics value chain, from raw material production and EEE manufacturing to post-consumer e-waste collection, logistics and recycling. Around the world, there is growing interest in digital technologies - particularl ... y AI, robotics, cloud computing, the IoT and blockchain - as tools to strengthen and support a circular electronics value chain from operational and logistical tasks to communication. Digital solutions were found in all stages of the EEE value chain, with some in widespread use. However, globally, technologies are being applied at various scales and in a heterogenous nature. Digital solutions were also found to be largely aimed at the optimization of existing business processes for improved efficiency. Digital solutions were found to address the challenges observed in the electronics value chain. They bridge the information gap between stakeholders by building connectivity and communication channels, as well as between devices, facilitating vital information exchange, including tracking, and monitoring of materials and e-waste flows. Digital technologies such as collection applications and online marketplaces provide consumers with the convenience and incentives to turn in their e-waste. Given the logistical requirements of the value chain and the large amount of EEE and e-waste in circulation, digitalisation leverages data analysis to maximize resources, and optimize processes by increasing efficiency and reducing costs. With the emergence of highly automated or autonomous systems, digital technologies can contribute to the improvement of worker health and safety through improved handling of hazardous materials, as well as increase the efficiency and speed of sorting large quantities of EEE and e-waste, increasing the purity of the waste stream and the amount recycled. As functionality and sophistication of digital technologies increase, solutions are more likely to be employed to access data in real time, design new products and services, and with it, transform business models towards circularity. With the extent of digitalisation varying considerably between and within countries, as well as between private and public entities, it should be noted that digital solutions require resources and an enabling ecosystem to be effectively rolled out across the electronics value chain. Elements such as equal access to digital infrastructure and digital skills, financial viability of the digital applications, the opportunity for public-private partnerships, as well as data security and privacy provisions are important factors in the effectiveness of digital solutions. Furthermore, countries with fledgling e-waste management systems and linear electronics value chains, particularly in LMICs, need to prioritize strengthening linkages between stakeholders and creating robust and circular electronics value chains as a first step. This paper has shown that the electronics value chain and the necessary shift towards a circular economy, can benefit from and be enabled by the use of digital solutions, especially for waste prevention, more transparent producer responsibility and supporting consumer participation. In assessing the potential of digital solutions to strengthen and support the transition towards a circular electronics value chain, it is important to note that such an evolution needs to be complemented with continuing research and efforts to understand its impact on the electronics value chain and its stakeholders, considering the most vulnerable such as those working in the informal sector. Digitalisation comes with numerous benefits, but an unregulated space can alienate some of those involved and potentially underscore inequalities, infringe on privacy and even create more e-waste. Attention should also be paid to the environmental impact of digital technology solutions, from the resources needed for device production, energy consumption during use, and e-waste generation from the solutions themselves. It is important that stakeholders adopting digital solutions consider that they are designed for longevity, taking into consideration the need of future software upgrades, and designed for efficient repair, reuse or refurbishment." (Conclusion) more

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Regional good practices: Accelerating innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation in the Arab States region

Geneva: ITU (2021), viii, 79 pp.

"This report provides an overview of the comparative innovation capacity of the Arab States region through ICT-centric innovation policy monitors, and an insight into how good practices can strengthen capacity to mainstream ICT innovation into national development agendas. It showcases a number of c ... more

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Financing Universal Access to Digital Technologies and Services

Geneva: ITU (2021), vii; 93 pp.

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Digital Trends in Africa 2021: Information and Communication Technology Trends and Developments in the Africa Region 2017-2020
Deep Insights

Geneva: ITU (2021), 65 pp.

"This report provides an overview of trends and developments in ICT infrastructure, access and use in Africa, which includes 44 member states and is home to a population of 1.04 billion people. The report highlights changes in ICT adoption since the last World Telecommunication Development Conferenc ... more

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Digital tools and strategies in COVID-19 infodemic response: Case studies and discussion

Roman Chestnov et al.

Geneva: ITU (2021), 60 pp.

"Digital technology, while an important enabler of many COVID-19 mitigation measures, has also contributed to the rise of misinformation and disinformation surrounding the pandemic. The circulation of rumours, conspiracy theories, false claims and misconceptions about the novel coronavirus has had a ... more

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Digital trends in Asia and the Pacific 2021: Information and communication technology trends and developments in the Asia-Pacific region, 2017-2020

Geneva: ITU (2021), vi, 58 pp.

"This report provides an overview of trends and developments in ICT infrastructure, access and use in Asia and the Pacific, which includes 38 Member States and is home to a population of 4.2 billion people. It highlights changes in information communication technology (ICT) adoption since the last W ... more

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Ageing in a Digital World: From Vulnerable to Valuable

Ana María Carrillo

Geneva: ITU (2021), vi, 41 pp.

"Ageing in a digital world – from vulnerable to valuable" is the first- ever report to be produced by ITU to raise awareness in the ICT sector on the importance of being prepared to respond to the needs and requirements of ageing populations. This is essential to fulfil our pledge to ‘’leave n ... more

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Digital Skills Insights

Geneva: ITU (2021), xii, 142 pp.

"The eight articles in the publication can be broadly grouped into two main sets. The first set discusses the different types of digital skills required from a more academic perspective, in particular in the context of the pandemic and post-pandemic period, as countries accelerate their move towards ... more

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Pandemic in the Internet age: From second wave to new normal, recovery, adaptation and resilience

Scott W. Minehane, Simon Molloy

Geneva: ITU (2021), ix, 96 pp.

"ICTs have an enormous role to play in helping society adapt to the dislocations caused by the pandemic. This enhanced role comes in addition to the already central part that digital technologies have assumed in driving innovation, digital disruption and economic growth and development, particularly ... more

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Emerging technology trends: Artificial intelligence and big data for development 4.0

Mirjana Stankovic, Aminata Amadou Garba, Nikola Neftenov

Geneva: ITU (2021), xv, 87 pp.

"Intended as a guide for policy-makers and other stakeholders in crafting a national AI and data strategy for development, the report highlights opportunities and outlines good policy and regulatory practices for implementation, while also flagging key challenges and offering hands-on suggestions in ... more

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Digital trends in the Americas region 2021: Information and communication technology trends and developments in the Americas region, 2017-2020

Geneva: ITU (2021), vi, 58 pp.

"This report provides an overview of trends and developments in ICT infrastructure, access and use in the Americas region, which includes 35 Member States and is home to a population of 1 billion people. The report highlights changes in ICT adoption since the last World Telecommunication Development ... more

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Connectivity in the Least Developed Countries: Status report 2021

Michael Minges

Geneva: ITU (2021), ix, 59 pp.

"In 2020, the 46 LDCs had a combined population of 1.06 billion people and are highly vulnerable, with low levels of human development. And yet, geography, population size and income vary within the group, and these different conditions affect digital development. National data infrastructure is an ... more

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Regional E-Waste Monitor for the Arab States

Giulia Iattoni, Elise Vermeersch, Cornelis Peter Baldé, Innocent Chidi Nnorom, Ruediger Kuehr

Bonn: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR); ITU; United Nations University (UNU) (2021), 103 pp.

"The key statistical findings for the region are that electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) placed on the market (POM) increased by 30 per cent from 3.2 megatons (Mt), or 8.8 kilograms per inhabitant (kg/inh), in 2010 to 4.1 Mt (or 9.5 kg/inh) in 2019. The Arab States mostly import, rather than ... more

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Giga: Empowering communities in Asia and the Pacific through school connectivity

Geneva: ITU (2021), ix, 92 pp.

"Giga, a joint collaboration between ITU and UNICEF, is an initiative to connect every young person in the world to information, opportunity and choice. Devised before the onslaught on COVID-19, the project addresses the underlying inequities in access to the Internet. However, it is also a platform ... for creating the infrastructure necessary to provide digital connectivity to an entire country, for every community and for every citizen. With schools as a focal point, Giga seeks to build robust digital ecosystems, so communities everywhere can cope with shocks such as COVID-19 and ensure that no one is left behind. To achieve this goal, Giga builds on four pillars: map, finance, connect, empower. Map. Mapping of schools helps identify the connectivity problems and gauge the magnitude of the challenge in each country. Top-down and bottom-up approaches to mapping school connectivity support this endeavour [...] Connect. There are various infrastructure and technology solutions available that could bring affordable connectivity to the unconnected schools identified by the mapping exercise, including established technologies such as Wi-Fi, satellite, and fibre [...] Finance. The selection of appropriate financing mechanisms depends on the magnitude of the challenge. The costing analysis can only take place after mapping connectivity gaps and determining fit-for-purpose connectivity solutions. Government budgets or universal service funds (USFs) could address small- to medium-sized connectivity gaps [...] Empower. Bringing connectivity to schools will have a limited impact if e-learning solutions are not in place and if educators do not have the digital skills to empower learners. There are many case studies from Asia and the Pacific of initiatives that aim to empower digital learning [...] Giga has made significant progress since its launch. It is already active in 17 countries in three regions. Countries in Asia and the Pacific are next to join the Giga initiative. Several countries have expressed interest, including Bhutan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji. Each country has its own opportunities and challenges in terms of extending connectivity. The review of policies, regulatory environment, school connectivity initiatives and availability of connectivity data in potential Giga countries and the assessment of use cases strongly indicate that there is significant promise for the expansion of Giga in the region." (Executive summary, pages vi-vii) more

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Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures

Geneva: ITU (2020), 17 pp.

"Facts and Figures 2020 reveals that people in rural areas continue to face greater challenges than people in urban areas in terms of remaining connected during the lockdown, especially in developing economies. Large swathes of the rural landscape are still not covered by mobile broadband networks, ... more

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Bridging the Digital Innovation Divide: A toolkit for developing sustainable ICT-centric ecosystem projects

Geneva: ITU (2020), ix, 70 pp.

"This toolkit is a guide to skills that will empower digital innovation ecosystem actors to turn a community into a thriving a digital society. Developing strong innovation ecosystems is a key component of national development, as innovation — especially in ICTs — is a driver of economic competi ... more

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Digital Regulation Handbook

Geneva: ITU (2020), xvi, 199 pp.

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ITU guidelines for national emergency telecommunication plans

Juan Manuel Roldan, Felipe Ordoñez

Geneva: ITU (2020), v, 95 pp.

"The effective management of the risk of disasters depends on communication and information sharing across all levels of government, within communities, and between public and private organizations. In particular, timely and effective information flow is important for early warning and alerting the ... population, for preparing for an emergency event, and for the effective coordination and articulation of response activities that can minimize economic loss, mitigate the impact on public well-being and loss of life. A national emergency telecommunication plan (NETP) sets out a strategy to enable and ensure communications availability during the disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery phases, by promoting coordination across all levels of government, between public and private organizations, and within communities at risk. Preparation and implementation of an NETP engages stakeholders to think through the life cycle of a potential disaster, it determines the required capabilities for emergency responses, and establishes a governance framework of roles and responsibilities. It also clarifies how to shape planning, envision and share desired outcomes, and it outlines effective ways to achieve and communicate expected results. The NETP will reflect what diverse stakeholder communities need to focus on in order to address specific risks with available resources. Additionally, for developing countries, the NETP will highlight major areas of risk. This not only provides support and justification for the funding of vital equipment and personnel in an emergency, but also promotes the need for day-to-day resources and procedures that keep national authorities prepared, especially to maintaining vital communications, the essential lifeline during emergencies. This report assists national authorities and policymakers to develop a clear, flexible and user-friendly framework that guides countries on how to develop a strategic plan to support and enable the continued use of telecommunication and information and communication technology (ICT) networks and services in all four disaster management phases. It not only describes the main elements that an NETP should consider, but also highlights its potential benefits. It includes a step-by-step guide to the development of an NETP, it serves as a useful resource based on ITU recommendations and concepts, as well as expertise from other global bodies and organizations." (Overview, page 1) more

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Building Smart Villages: A Blueprint. As Piloted in Niger

Geneva: ITU (2020), xiv, 57 pp.

"This Smart Village Blueprint, piloted in Niger, has been conceived as a practical tool for establishing smart villages. It contributes to the implementation of the Niger 2.0 Smart Villages project, which aims at providing broadband infrastructure to improve Internet access in rural and remote parts ... more

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Guidelines for Parents and Educators on Child Online Protection
Key Guides

Geneva: ITU (2020), 59 pp.

"Many parents and guardians are under a common misconception that their child is safer if they use the computer at home, or at school, than elsewhere. This is a dangerous misconception because the Internet can take children and young people virtually anywhere in the world, and in the process, they c ... more

Digital Trends in Africa 2021: Information and Communication Technology Trends and Developments in the Africa Region 2017-2020 Deep Insights

Guidelines for Parents and Educators on Child Online Protection Key Guides

Digital Trends in Africa 2021: Information and Communication Technology Trends and Developments in the Africa Region 2017-2020
Deep Insights

Guidelines for Parents and Educators on Child Online Protection
Key Guides