The WSIS Forum 2016 represents the world's largest annual gathering of the ‘ICT for Development’ community. The WSIS Forum, co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS Action Line Facilitators/Co-Facilitators (UNDESA, FAO, UNEP, WHO, UN Women, WIPO, WFP, ILO, WMO, UN, ITC, UPU, UNODC, and UN Regional Commissions) has proven to be an efficient mechanism for coordination of multi-stakeholder implementation activities, information exchange, creation of knowledge, sharing of best practices and continues to provide assistance in developing multi-stakeholder and public/private partnerships to advance development goals. This forum will provide structured opportunities to network, learn and participate in multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on WSIS implementation.

This event builds upon the tradition of annual WSIS May meetings, and its format is the result of open consultations with all WSIS Stakeholders. Emerging trends in 11 WSIS Action Lines both in terms of Policy and Technology are produced as an Outcome of WSIS Forum in a multi-stakeholder environment on an annual basis. The WSIS Forum 2016 Open Consultation Process on the Thematic Aspects and Innovations on the Format aims at ensuring the participatory and inclusive spirit of the WSIS Forum 2016 by actively engaging governments, civil society, the private sector and intergovernmental organizations in the preparatory process. The Agenda and Program of the WSIS Forum will be built on the basis of the official submissions received during the Open Consultation Process.

IIS leaders Yuri Hohlov and Tatiana Ershova participated in a number of Forum's events.

On May 5, 2016 they contributed to Action Lines C1 and C11 Facilitation Meeting «The Role of Public Authorities and Global/Regional Cooperation in Ensuring that No One is Left Behind in the Information Society» organized by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development pledges that no one will be left behind in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The role of public governance authorities is crucial in the promotion of ICTs for achieving better results, the provision of a robust enabling environment for ICTs to flourish can accelerate the implementation of the SDGs. Capacity-building, particularly for vulnerable groups, is equally important as is demand-driven policy advice and technical assistance. Public authorities are also expected to provide such support during the implementation of the SDGs.

International cooperation among all stakeholders is vital in implementation of WSIS action lines and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As stated by the General Assembly in the WSIS+10 outcome document, the value and principles of multi-stakeholder cooperation and engagement that have characterized the WSIS processes since its inception have been and are vital in developing the information society.

The meeting provided a platform for participants to exchange information and experiences; to identify priority areas for implementation within the Action Lines and to explore synergies among different stakeholders for more effective knowledge sharing and collaboration in the implementation process. The meeting was moderated by Ms. Marion Barthelemy, Acting Director, Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).

The list of panellists included:

• Mr. Haidar Fraihat, Director of the Technology for Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
• Mr. Kasirim Nwuke, Chief, New Technologies and Innovation Section, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Africa
• Ms. Clarisa Estol, Secretary for Investment Promotion, Ministry of Communications, Argentina

• Ms. Lobna Smida, Association Tunisienne de Développement Numérique, Tunisia
• Ms. Marilyn Cade, Advisor, ICT Associations from Developing Countries, United States of America
• Mr. Andy Richardson, Information Specialist, Inter-Parliamentary Union
• Mr. Chengetai Masango, Programme and Technology Manager, United Nations Internet Governance Forum
• Tatiana Ershova, General Director, Institute of the Information Society, Russian Federation (see text of intervention here)
• Mr. Mikael Snaprud, Coordinator of the European Internet Inclusion Initiative (EIII)
• Mr. Juan Raúl Heredía Acosta, Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Mexico
• Ms. Diana Parra Silva, Agency for e-Government and Information Society, Office of the President of Uruguay
• Yuri Hohlov participated in the discussion around the C1 and C11 Action Lines.

Tatiana Ershova also reported to the thematic workshop «Development of the Information Society in the CIS Countries» organized by JCS National infocommunication holding «Zerde».

The meeting was moderated by Kuralay Yeleussizova, Vice Chairperson of the Management Board of «Zerde» and opened by Rashid Ismailov, Vice Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation.

Ms. Yeleyssizova stressed that CIS Countries actively participate in the development of the Information Society globally and regionally. Most of them have contributed to the WSIS process initiated by the UN and held in two stages between December 2003 and November 2005 in Geneva and Tunis. As 2015 was the year of summarizing the results and further planning of the information society development at the global, regional and national levels, the draft CIS Cooperation Strategy in the field of Information Society Development up to 2025 and the Action Plan for its implementation consequently have been elaborated. In this regard, an analysis of the situation in the CIS countries in the field of Information Society development and appropriate policy recommendations along specific actions for all stakeholders have become necessary.

Ms. Yeleyssizova presented a comprehensove report on the results of analysis performed along Action Lines C1-C7 for each CIS country. The main focus in the analysis was made on the national programs and strategic documents in the field of ICT. Relevant leading rankings offered by ITU and WEF also provided basis for the analysis.

Tatiana Ershova presented the international group of experts from CIS countries who had contributed to the analysis: Hakob Hakobyan from Armenia; Qalib Qurbanov from Azerbaijan; Alexander Martinkevich from Belarus; Laura Taganova, Talgat Tulemisov, Evgeniy Lan and Aygul Zhusupova from Kazakhstan; Tattu Mambetalieva and Artem Goryaynov from Kyrgyzstan; Ion Cosuleanu from Moldova; Yuri Hohlov, Sergei Shaposhnik, Alexander Elizarov and Tatiana Ershova from Russia; Asomiddin Atoev and Rustam Kosimov from Tajikistan; Evgeniy Kolotilov from Ukraine.

In the afternoon Yuri Hohlov made a presentation at the facilitation meeting for Action Line C7 e-Government organized by UNDESA and ITU. The theme of the meeting was «How e-Government can ensure that no one is left behind in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals». The meeting was moderated by Ms. Marion Barthelemy, Acting Director, DPADM, UNDESA:

Session I – Overview

• Mr. Deniz Susar, Governance and Public Administration Officer, DPADM, UNDESA
• Mr. Hani Eskandar, ICT Applications Coordinator, International Telecommunications Union
• Mr. Tomasz Janowski, Founding Head, Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance, United Nations University (UNU)
• Mr. Haidar Fraihat, Director of the Technology for Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN ESCWA)
• Mr. Yuri Hohlov, Chairman of the Board, Institute of the Information Society, Russian Federation (see presentation here)

Session II – Case Studies

• Mr. Walter Fust, Former Head, Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Relief, Switzerland
• Ms. Roshni  Sen, Department of Women Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal, India
• Mr. Vladimir Averbakh, Director General of the Department of E-government Development, Ministry of Communications and Mass Media, Russian Federation
• Mr. Salem Saqer, Head of the Department of Systems & Programs Maintenance, Ministry of Interior, United Arab Emirates