BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a5159a6cd47d DTSTART:20220330T144500Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20220330T160000Z LOCATION:Geneva and Online\, Switzerland SUMMARY:25th CSTD side event: Technology Assessment: How to do it CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Background\n\nTechnology assessment (TA) is an interactive\, co mmunicative\, and scientific process that aims to contribute to the format ion of public and political opinion on the social aspects of science and t echnology\, risks\, and opportunities\, providing effective\, pragmatic\, and sustainable options for policy action. In domains like energy and agri culture\, the innovative use of TA can assist in identifying priorities an d helping improve the cost-effectiveness\, long-term impact\, and environm ental sustainability of technology policies and investments.\n\nTA is curr ently not widely used in developing countries due to a lack of capabilitie s\, institutions\, and experience in this area. The need to enhance TA cap acities to make appropriate technology choices has intensified as countrie s are faced with multiple challenges due to the rapid introduction of new technologies while seeking to achieve the SDGs and simultaneously respond to significant challenges like COVID-19. The UNCTAD project on technology assessment will support STI policymakers and other stakeholders in three c ountries (South Africa\, Seychelles\, and Zambia) to design and implement a technology assessment exercise in the energy and agricultural sectors an d take action to utilize technologies as catalysts for sustainable develop ment. Enhanced capacity would be demonstrated by identifying and character izing the relevant technological trends and associated socio-economic and environmental implications in energy and/or agriculture and having an acti on plan for these technological sectors in each target country defined and adopted by various stakeholders. This project responds to the Economic an d Social Council resolution E/RES/2018/29\, which encourages countries to undertake technology assessment exercises as a process to encourage struct ured debate around new technologies and encourages the CSTD and UNCTAD to explore the feasibility of such activities.\n\nObjective \n\nUNCTAD organi zes this side event in cooperation with WFEO &\; WOMENVAI to share the UNCTAD Technology assessment (TA) methodology that investigates the likely economic\, social\, and environmental impacts of introducing new technolo gies. The investigation results can provide an evidence base to support th e formulation of policy and practice related to introducing technologies t hat are new to a country. In addition\, the UNCTAD TA Methodology could be a useful guide for organizations engaged in reviewing the usefulness of n ew and existing technologies in developing countries\, especially in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)\, mainly in Africa. \n\nFormat of the side ev ent\n\nUNCTAD will present its Technology Assessment Methodology\, prepare d under the UNCTAD Technology Assessment Project\, to support policymakers and other stakeholders during the design and implementation of a technolo gy assessment exercise in the energy or agricultural sectors. This will be followed by a panel discussion. The panel will bring together representat ives of two pilot countries taking part in the TA project\, representative s of NGOs working in this area\, and experts on TA working with the projec t. A Q&\;A will follow the panel discussion.\n\n \n\nRegister here\nht tps://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=2zWeD09UYE-9zF6kFubccNcj vaJgvgtDsa9wm-JuUplURU03UDNEMFNUQzk3V1kzNDg2V0hGRUc0VyQlQCN0PWcu&\;amp\ ;web=1&\;amp\;wdLOR=c0AE66723-67CE-46C9-92CF-42D602E75601\n\nView meeti ng on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/25th-cstd-side-event-technolo gy-assessment-how-do-it DTSTAMP:20260710T204422Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR