The Chairman of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), Mr. Peter Major, invites members of the CSTD to provide feedback on the establishment of a working group to develop recommendations on how to further implement enhanced cooperation as envisioned in the Tunis Agenda.
Dear members of the CSTD,
The General Assembly, at its 70th session, adopted resolution A/RES/70/125 "Outcome document of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the overall review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society".
This resolution requested me, as the Chair of the CSTD, through the Economic and Social Council, to establish a working group to develop recommendations on how to further implement enhanced cooperation as envisioned in the Tunis Agenda:
“65…request the Chair of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), through the ECOSOC, to establish a working group to develop recommendations on how to further implement enhanced cooperation as envisioned by the Tunis Agenda, taking into consideration the work that has been done on this matter so far. The group, which shall be constituted no later than July 2016, at the outset will decide on its methods of work, including modalities, and will ensure the full involvement of all relevant stakeholders taking into account all their diverse views and expertise. The group will submit a report to the 21st session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development for inclusion in the annual report of the CSTD to the ECOSOC, and will serve as an input to the regular reporting of the Secretary-General on WSIS implementation.” |
In this connection, drawing on the experiences of the CSTD Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation (2013-2014), I would like to share with you my proposal on the composition of this working group.
I propose the following composition for the working group on enhanced cooperation:
20 Member States (four per each regional group of the CSTD) plus Switzerland and Tunisia - the two Member States that have hosted the World Summit on the Information Society
Also, I propose to invite the following stakeholders to interactively participate in the Working Group:
Five representatives from the business community
Five representatives from civil society
Five representatives from representatives from the technical and academic community
Five representatives from intergovernmental organizations.
It would be very much appreciated, if you could provide me with your feedback before 8 February 2016. Please address your replies to the following address: pmajor@bluewin.ch with a copy to Mr Taffere Tesfachew, Acting Director Division on Technology and Logistics and Director Division on Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes, at stdev@unctad.org.
Further, following the experience of the CSTD Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation, I will invite regional and stakeholder groups to hold consultations on which respective representatives they would like to be considered for the working group. To facilitate these consultations, I will designate focal points for each regional and stakeholder group.
On this basis, I will share with you the composition of the Working Group. My intention is to do so by 31 March 2016. I will also communicate to you the calendar for the next steps (including as regards group representative nominations, final composition, etc.)
I thank you very much in advance.
Sincerely yours,
Peter Major
Chairman, the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development
