UNCTAD to explore pandemic recovery through science

Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has said that it will explore science, technology and innovation for a sustainable and resilient recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UN body made the call in a statement saying, during the upcoming meeting of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, it will bring together experts to explore how STI (Science, Technology and Innovation) can contribute to a sustainable and resilient recovery from the pandemic.

This year's CSTD meeting will take place from May 17 to May 21 with the theme: “Using science, technology and innovation to close the gap on Sustainable Development Goal 3, on good health and well-being.”

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed will lead speakers in examining how STI can help rebuild health-care systems and socioeconomic structures post-Covid-19, while reducing inequalities laid bare by the pandemic.

Experts will examine opportunities offered by frontier technologies, some of which are used to respond to the pandemic – such as artificial intelligence, big data and robotics.

While these technologies can enable developing countries to leapfrog previous technological paradigms and transform their economies and societies, these nations – especially the least developed ones – are generally not ready to apply them due to resource and capacity constraints.

Also, there is a serious risk that frontier technologies may exacerbate existing inequalities or create digital divides between technology haves and have-nots, according to the UNCTAD Technology and Innovation Report 2021.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the pressing need to prioritize STI in terms of policymaking, resource allocation and international cooperation,” said Shamika N Sirimanne, UNCTAD's director of technology and logistics, who also heads the CSTD secretariat.

“But governments also need to make sure that the development benefits of STI translate directly into the daily lives of people all over the world,” she said.

It’s vital for all countries to have equal access to the benefits of life-saving treatments, not only for the pandemic but also for poverty-related diseases, future health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks, she further said.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has already highlighted many manifestations of profound digital inequalities within and among countries,” she added.

She said proactive policy interventions, the mobilization of all stakeholders and international cooperation are needed to set the direction of STI advances towards a sustainable and resilient recovery from the pandemic.

Progress on summit on information society

The CSTD session will also review the progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society.

Digital technologies have played a crucial role in addressing the pandemic and enabling resilience in many ways. These include the use of big data and artificial intelligence for public health interventions and the use of digital services to expedite infection monitoring and testing.

Other trends include the use of the internet and videoconference platforms for work and education and the expanded use of e-commerce and online entertainment platforms.

The CSTD session will also include a round-table discussion for high-level policymakers to exchange experiences, lessons learned and good practices, and to discuss challenges faced at national, regional and international levels, as well as those affecting specific groups.

Science, technology and innovation policies for development

The commission also will seek to raise awareness, stimulate a policy dialogue among stakeholders about the role of STI in national development and encourage stronger linkages among them.

It will include a session entitled “Applying a gender lens to STI policies in the 21st century” and presentations of science, technology and innovation policy reviews of the Dominican Republic, Uganda and Zambia.

The CSTD is a subsidiary body of ECOSOC and the UN focal point for STI for development, in analysing how STI, including information and communications technologies, serve as enablers of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.