Bangladesh to lead global e-Quality towards zero digital divide
Purabi Matin, ABM Adnan Faisal & Arafatur Rahaman :
Over the past three decades, a digital revolution has taken place worldwide, and Bangladesh has also had its share in it.
Bangladesh’s digital development, especially in information technology, made it a successful Digital Bangladesh, and now it is marching on to SMART Bangladesh. However, development is all about people, the expansion of their choices by augmenting their abilities and providing avenues to apply.
Unlike all its achievements, the digital revolution has also created a digital divide, which is a contributing factor to overall inequalities.
To ensure an improved and equitable distribution of resources, priority should be given to active participation across all strata of society.
Here comes the matter of e-Quality. Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents.
It is also the idea that no one should have worse life opportunities due to their birth circumstances, place of origin, religious beliefs, or physical or mental limitations. Equality acknowledges that historically, discrimination has occurred against some groups of people who have protected traits like colour, handicap, sex, and sexual orientation.
And e-Quality is essential for quality digital services for the poor, vulnerable and excluded groups, and marginalized people so that digital rights are established, ensuring equitable development.
It is very real that for development, there have been different drivers, but currently, the digital divide has become a chief driver of inequality, excluding billions of people globally.
Digital development has provided expansion but not inclusion, as it has amplified existing inequalities. But, with proper management, it can be an equalizing factor in socio-economic development, which makes it crucial to assess and analyze equitable access to it.
The current progress lies in the quantity of digital services, while the elite has captured the quality of services. And Bangladesh has done tremendously in this segment.
In 2008, Bangladesh’s longest-serving premier, Sheikh Hasina, made a clarion call for an across-the-board digitalization scheme, coining it Digital Bangladesh.
Now, thirteen years after this commitment, a previously poverty-challenged country has become a tech-enabled middle-income economy, beating all odds.
Today, more than 18,000 government offices across the country were brought under dedicated high-speed internet, and one of the world’s largest web portals, consisting of 25,000 government websites, was established.
More than 9,000 digital Centres provide essential services to people’s doorsteps. One cannot think of a more powerful solution to the cause of digital inclusion and ending the digital divide between city and village people.
In the meantime, significant progress has been made in terms of expanding the quantity of digital services. However, there is no automatic link between digital expansion and digital inclusion.
That linkage has to be established through policies and institutions.
For example, the existing measure of internet access-online versus offline-greatly overestimates how many people across the globe are digitally included. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the realization that basic internet access is simply not enough.
While nearly 70% of people worldwide are now considered to be online, billions still lack the quality of access required to do essential activities online like access healthcare, take a class, look for a job, or participate in the digital economy.
Unfortunately, quality connectivity and, thus, quality digital services are still only enjoyed by society’s elites, and the poor and marginalized remain excluded, left behind by the digital revolution and deepening existing inequalities.
But digitization can be a critical helping factor during shocks and vulnerabilities, as has been evident during COVID-19.
It can be game-changing for the poor and marginalized groups. In a world where digital advancements are reshaping economies, education, and societies at an unprecedented pace, approximately 3 billion people still lack access to the internet.
As we stand on the cusp of a new era, 1.3 billion school-age children remain disconnected from the educational possibilities that digital learning can offer.
To achieve the objective of digital inclusion or digital equality, ‘e-Quality’ contributes towards achieving the ultimate goal of overall equitable development.
The ‘e-Quality Centre for Inclusive Innovation’ is a global institution for promoting and committing to eliminate the digital divide and promote digital inclusion worldwide by promoting South-South and North-South technology transfer, funding initiatives, and policy research.
Major focused areas are South-South Technology Transfer, International ICT Innovation (i3) Matching Fund Facility, and Digital Divide Research.
Working in these areas, the centre will leverage Bangladesh’s remarkable progress in frugal but inclusive digital transformation to transfer proven digital solutions to underserved communities in developing nations and LDCs.
The centre’s experience and success can pave the way for expanding to more countries, promoting inclusivity on a global scale.
Bangladesh is also proposing an i3 matching fund facility that aims to support LDCs in piloting digital solutions customized to their unique realities.
By fostering innovation and technology sharing, the centre can empower nations to bridge the digital divide and accelerate inclusive digital transformation.
Conducting research on standards, the e-Quality Index and strategies to address pressing digital divide issues is crucial.
Policy and research initiatives by the Centre will accurately identify digital divide issues and advocate for data-driven interventions to promote inclusivity.
In the journey towards building an equitable world and a bold effort to bridge the digital gap and foster global inclusion, in partnership with UNDP, People-Centered Internet, & Observer Research Foundation, Bangladesh government launched the ‘Zero Digital Divide’ campaign as part of the ‘e-Quality Centre for Inclusive Innovation.’
This initiative aims to bridge the digital gap worldwide and promote global inclusion. The #ZeroDigitalDivide Campaign Launching Program fostered collaboration among nations and stakeholders, generated actionable insights, and promoted commitment to inclusive global development.
The ZeroDigitalDivide Toolkit is designed for global accessibility and customization to address specific needs. This commitment extends beyond Bangladesh, reaching the Asia-Pacific region and engaging UNDP regional directors in Latin America and Africa.
The path to zero digital divide may be challenging, but it is a goal that resonates with our noblest aspirations.
We have the power to revolutionize the way our world operates transcending barriers that have held us back for far too long.
Let us not be daunted by the enormity of the task; instead, let’s be inspired by the impact it can have on billions of lives.
We all know that digital literacy, digital inclusion, quality of digital access, and symmetry of information are critical drivers of e-Quality.
We must end the digital divide to achieve ZeroDigitalDivide. Somehow, it is like an audacious goal, yes, but it’s one that aligns with the values we hold.
The Bangladesh government and the global development community must stand shoulder to shoulder-with this historic endeavour.
And build a future where no one is left behind in the digital revolution and make #ZeroDigitalDivide a success.
Together, we can build a more equitable and inclusive digital future for all by empowering changemakers globally to take meaningful action toward bridging the digital divide and fostering digital inclusion in their communities and regions.
The writer is the Head of Culture & Communications, a2i. ABM Adnan Faisal is a Communications & Outreach Consultant, a2i.
Arafatur Rahaman is Strategic Content Coordinator (Culture & Communications Team), a2i.
