Information and Communication Technology for Peace

The primary objectives of this 113-page report are to raise awareness about a sector of the information and communication technology (ICT) field called Information and Communication Technology for Peace (ICT4Peace) and to contribute to strategy and policy dialogue about it. Initiated at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2003 and its successors, this initiative identifies ICT4Peace as including:

• prevention of, response to, and recovery from armed conflict;
• promotion of peace;
• humanitarian relief and disaster assistance; and
• post-conflict peace building and reconstruction.

It identifies the need for a framework and standards for developing and implementing ITC4Peace initiatives in order to support coordination of civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), business, media, military, international and government agencies as responders to conflict and disaster.

The selected examples section contains issues and suggested solutions on specifics that have arisen in ICT implementation. For example, in discussing the impact of the internet, authors observe that because it is "information neutral" as a tool, it can be used to disseminate potentially inflammatory and incorrect information. A suggested solution is the current development of portals as administrated sites. A collection of portals on peace and conflict resolution is included. Sections included in selected examples are: operations and supports, technical development, and post-conflict reconstruction.

The digital divide, including poor regulatory frameworks, lack of access, and lack of infrastructure, is a core issue. Another is the need for higher levels of confidentiality and security considering that inaccurate, conflicting or misleading information can lead to loss of life. Additionally, the physical security of personnel is an issue since those with ICT tools may be targeted. The need for data standards and systems interoperability is evident when information cannot be shared because of technical difficulties. Agencies coming into a region with technologically superior systems that do not network with local technology can carry the message of elitism. This creates power imbalances if critical information appears to be held and not disseminated or if emergency ICT is allowed to work outside local regulatory norms.

The following are recommendations of steps for future dialogue:

• Create a framework for linking fragmented projects and actors already working in this sector. Include a secretariat, budget, and multistakeholder participation in its composition.
• Work with the United Nations (UN) on a strategic management plan with structures, personnel, and a professional knowledge collection platform for use in policy analysis and strategy building. Ensure that there is a strong mandate of support and budgetary resources.
• Follow participatory design and training principles to extend to managers and local staff the capacity building needed for collaborative problem solving and technical skills proliferation.
• Identify and disseminate best practices.
• Develop evaluation tools for conflict and post-conflict responses.
• Improve rapid deployment of well-elaborated management systems. Include transitions to reconstruction and to exiting.
• Institutionalise agreements for deployment, particularly in complex emergencies.
• Make protection of public information resources a priority.
• Expand capacity of and access to local independent mass media.
• Foster important links based on trust, confidentiality, and strategy sharing among all stakeholders.
• Increase private sector participation.
• Stimulate more research.