unconnected.org participate in UN ESCAP associated event

unconnected.org Philippines participated online at a United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) associated event entitled “Empowering Communities: Connectivity Initiatives for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific,” on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD).

Centering on Community-Centered Connectivity Initiatives (CCCIs), the event was organized by the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) in cooperation with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Internet Society (ISOC), Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP), Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development (IPMG) and the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism - Social and Community Enterprise Constituency. 

CCCIs, also dubbed as Community Networks, are contributory to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as internet cuts across various sectors, including education, healthcare and disaster management. 

The Global Digital Compact also highlights community network’s resilience and ownership. Newer models to do CCCIs are emerging as a response to adapting to specific economies’ rules, regulations and policies.

CCCIs have likewise evolved from an alternative to commercial telecommunications service to a way of living and a form of sustainable livelihood and social enterprise for local entrepreneurs with profound positive impacts to the community brought about by connectivity. 

In the Philippines, unconnected.org strives to open up more opportunities for the unserved and underserved to be part of the global digital economy through the internet. We are able to achieve this through collaboration with ISPs, academe, civil society organizations, other non-profits and the government.