INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)
Document TDAG-2/23-E
Second Meeting of the Telecommunication 22 October 1999
Development Advisory Group (TDAG) Original: English
Geneva, 13-14 September 1999
SECOND MEETING OF THE TELECOMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY
GROUP (TDAG)
Geneva, 13 - 14 September 1999
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS
1 Opening remarks
In his opening remarks, the Secretary-General drew attention to the financial situation of the BDT
budget for 2000-2001, which had been approved by the 1999 session of Council. The budget has
gone from 58 million SF in the 1998-99 biennium to 63,4 million SF in the 2000-2001 biennium,
which meant that, because of the ceiling on expenditures imposed by the Minneapolis
Plenipotentiary Conference, this increase would need to be absorbed by the other two sectors and
the General Secretariat. The Secretary-General emphasized the crucial role to be played by TDAG
in advising how the financial resources made available to the BDT could be used in a rational and
effective manner. After a short welcoming address by the Director of the BDT, the second meeting
of the Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG) was opened by Mr. J.S. Lee,
Chairman of the TDAG.
2 Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was approved with some changes, (refer to Annex 1). A list of documents issued
before and during the meeting is shown in Annex 2.
3 “State of the BDT” Address by the Director of BDT
The Director of the BDT then made a “State of the BDT” address, which focussed on a number of
activities and events which had occurred since the first TDAG meeting. These included the May
th
17 ITU celebration of World Telecommunication Day on the theme of electronic commerce,
decisions taken by the 1999 Council on matters relating specifically to the Development Sector,
the recently concluded meetings of Study Groups 1 and 2, the establishment of no less than 4 new
partnership agreements over the past few months, and a restructuring which he had just carried
out in the BDT.
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4 Appointment of Vice-Chairpersons
The TDAG noted and endorsed by acclamation the list of 14 Vice-Chairpersons put forward
by the Director. In addition to the chairs of Study Groups 1 and 2, the Director presented briefly
each of the other 12 Vice-Chairpersons and stated that their qualifications and dedication to the
sector made their selection very desirable. In designating the Vice-Chairpersons, the Director
wished to assign two Vice-Chairs to each of the 6 Valletta Action Plan (VAP) Programmes, to
maintain a good geographical balance as well as a good mix between Member countries and
Sector Members, and to ensure continuity in TDAG’s four year work programme. He expressed
the view that the Vice Chairs should be consulted on various issues, such as the Operational Plan
for 2000, and that he wished to convene one-day meetings of all Vice Chairs, prior to each TDAG.
The meeting noted that the principle of rotation should be applied to the Chair and Vice-Chair
positions, as well as to the position of Chair of the TDAG Subgroup on Private Sector Issues, that
the TDAG Bureau of Vice-Chairpersons included only men and no women, and that gender
equality should in the future be better reflected in the composition of TDAG.
5 Approval of summary record of the First Meeting of TDAG
The summary record was approved, with a few minor amendments to numbers 8 and 14 of
the report. It was also pointed out that, while the first TDAG meeting had requested the Director
of the BDT to prepare a contribution for TDAG’s consideration on the Minneapolis Resolution
Plen/1 (Review and Improvement of the Management, Functioning and Structure of the ITU), no
such contribution had been submitted to the meeting.
6 Follow-up of First TDAG Meeting
Document TDAG 2/3, which contains a list of actions which required a follow-up after the first
TDAG meeting, was discussed and complemented by an addendum, (TDAG 2/3/Add 1) which
reflected comments made by various TDAG participants. In essence, clarifications were required
on two human resource development projects, i.e. the Centers of Excellence projects and the
preparation of Handbooks for developing countries. The Chair of the Special Group on Human
Resources of Study Group 2 (Mr. David Mellor of Cable & Wireless), volunteered, in his
capacity of Vice-Chair of the TDAG for human resource issues, to submit a report to the
next meeting of TDAG on both of the above-mentioned issues.
Furthermore, TDAG recommended that the Director submit, at the next meeting, a draft
contribution on the functioning, management and structure of the BDT (Minneapolis
Resolution 74), for its consideration and eventual submission to the Council Working
Group on ITU reform.
7 Form of TDAG reports
The Director of the BDT presented a contribution which aimed to replace the current, lengthy
summary records of TDAG meetings with a short, abbreviated summary of the main decisional
elements arrived at during the meetings, as is done in the Advisory Groups of the other two
Sectors. The proposal was accepted, on the understanding that new format would provide a
short overview of the discussions, as well as list the main decisional elements, and would also
permit delegates who so wished, to append written statements to the summary of conclusions.
8 ITU-D Study Group Meetings
Following a joint proposal submitted to TDAG by both Study Groups 1 and 2 regarding the terms
of reference of a group on the structure and working methods of the ITU-D study groups, TDAG
approved the creation of such a group, which will be chaired by Mrs. Elisabeth Nzagy of
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Tanzania. Mr. Dietmar Plesse of Germany was appointed Vice-Chair. The Group, which will
comprise representatives from the two Study Group Management Teams, Rapporteurs, other
collaborators and staff from the Study Group Secretariat, will present an interim report to the
next TDAG meeting in March 2000. The final report, after endorsement of the TDAG, will
then be transmitted to the next World Telecommunication Development Conference.
Three other matters were considered by TDAG: 1) the position of NGOs in the work of the ITU-D
Study Groups, 2) the participation of countries, particularly developing countries, in the work of
ITU-D, and 3- the use of languages in the work of the Study groups.
On the question of NGO participation in the work of the BDT, it was recalled that Study Group 2,
by way of documents 2/085 and 2/085(rev.1), had considered this matter, and had recommended
that it be considered by TDAG. There were many interventions in support of having BDT establish
partnerships with NGOs for projects in the developing world. But it was also pointed out that NGOs
do not by themselves represent a class of membership in the ITU, and that this is a matter that
may require to be considered by the Council Group on ITU Reform. The meeting recommended
that the Director submit the above two documents to the TDAG participants, and that he
provide the next TDAG meeting with an assessment of future NGO participation in the work
of the Development Sector.
TDAG also considered two documents ( Doc 1/57 and 1/57(Add.1) submitted to it by the Study
Groups, which make proposals for improving the quantitative and qualitative participation of
developing countries in the work of the ITU-D Study Groups. Following numerous interventions
which emphasized, amongst others, the need to add a training component to the work of the Study
Groups and to establish groups or networks of experts on Study Group questions, including one
intervention which proposed reducing the number of study group meetings between World
Telecommunication Development Conferences from 4 to 2, TDAG recommended that the two
documents mentioned above, along with an assessment of them by the Director, be
submitted to the next TDAG.
On the question relating to the use of languages in the work of the study groups, TDAG
recommended to the Director that Plenary Meetings of the Study Groups use the six official
languages of the ITU, and that three languages (English, French and Spanish) be used
during Rapporteur Group meetings.
9 Progress Report on VAP Implementation
Presentation of a Progress Report on implementation of the VAP provided participants with an
opportunity to seek clarification on a number of activities which had been, or are being,
implemented.
The Director stated that, whereas implementation level of the VAP had been at 35% in March, and
at 70% at the end of August, he was confident that the implementation level would be at 100% by
the end of the year. The remaining months of this year would be used to assess the various pilot
projects which had been undertaken, and to prepare the Operational Plan 2000, which he would
submit to the next meeting of TDAG. He emphasized the importance of encouraging our private
sector partners, and especially those in developing countries, in associating themselves with the
ITU in undertaking joint projects.
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10 Report on ITU Council deliberations on development matters
The Director’s presentation of this year’s Council deliberations focussed on adoption of a
Resolution in support of the strengthening of the ITU Regional Presence, completion of the 1999
BDT Operational Plan, presentation of various special assistance programmes, confirmation of a
Special Programme for LDCs, and endorsement of the TELECOM Surplus Programme funds.
TDAG considered a contribution from the Director of the BDT, on the reduction of the cost and
volume of documentation and publications. This matter had been extensively discussed at Council,
and the Director will be required to report to Council 2000 on this matter. The Director’s
contribution proposes five broad categories for BDT documents, as well as procedures for
processing the documents according to each category. Following numerous interventions on the
document, TDAG agreed to the Chair’s proposal that the document be approved in principle,
and that the Director, having taken into account the various interventions, develop
guidelines, in collaboration with the other elected officials, which would be submitted to
Council 2000. Furthermore, the measures proposed in the Director’s contribution will be
submitted to the Group on the structure and working methods of the ITU-D Study Groups,
for its consideration and report thereon to the next TDAG meeting.
Finally, the TDAG noted the Council decision to establish a Council Working Group, pursuant to
Minneapolis Plenipotentiary Conference Resolution 74, which will undertake a review of the
functioning, management and structure of the ITU, and report to the 2000 session of Council.
TDAG recommended that a contribution on BDT reform be prepared by the Director, that it
be submitted for comments to the TDAG Chair and Vice-Chairs by the end of October, that
it be circulated to all members of TDAG by the end of January, and that it then be submitted
to the next TDAG meeting at the beginning of March.
11 Regional Presence
TDAG noted the progress report provided by the Director on the strengthening of regional
presence. Participants who intervened on this item of the agenda were generally satisfied at the
progress achieved in strengthening regional presence. They underlined the link between a
strengthened regional presence and increased commitment to the activities of the study groups,
both at the ITU regional office level and at the national level. The Director of the BDT further
added that, from now on, representatives from each ITU regional office would participate in Study
Group meetings as well as in TDAG.
At the request of the delegation from France, the Director provided additional information, both in
writing (Document TDAG 2/17) and verbally, on the restructuring that he had undertaken in the
BDT. He expanded on the clearly defined responsibilities of each of the three BDT Departments,
the establishment of a position responsible for BDT internal and external communications, and the
reinforcing of regional presence through the establishment of a direct chain of command between
regional offices and Headquarters. The new structure is being implemented, on a provisional
th
basis, as of August 30 , 1999, and it will be submitted to Council at its next session. TDAG
recommended that the Director send out to all Member States and Sector Members an
information note on the restructuring, including a summary of the responsibilities of each
Department and a listing of all BDT contact points, with their coordinates.
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12 Telecom 99 Development Summit
TDAG was made aware that TELECOM 99 will feature a Development Summit, which will run from
th th
Monday October 11 to Friday October 15 . As part of this Development Summit, two days have
th th
been set aside (Monday October 11 and Friday October 15 ) for a special Telecom Development
Symposium, for which the following theme has been retained: “New Opportunities in Developing
Countries”.
The BDT and TELECOM have both contributed to the preparation of this Development Summit
and Symposium. Mr. Jaime Herrera, Head of the BDT Human Resource Development Unit, is the
focal point for the BDT’s involvement in the Development Symposium and Summit. The latest
version of the Development Symposium and Summit programmes was provided to all participants,
for their information. The Director added that, during TELECOM 99, he would formally launch the
Special LDC Programme, which will focus yearly on a limited number (4 or 5) of LDCs, and he
would announce a major partnership agreement with INTELSAT, whereby 300 small earth stations
and 10,000 terminals would be established in developing countries.
13 Y2K
The BDT Secretariat provided an extensive report of the activities undertaken by the BDT, in close
collaboration with the ITU-T Study Group 2 Year 2000 Task Force, other international
organizations and private sector entities. Telecom operators in more than 130 countries have been
sensitized to the Year 2000 Problem through ITU workshops. In addition to the publication of an
ITU Guide on the Year 2000 problem, aimed at telecoms operators, a study has been carried out,
in collaboration with the World Bank’s INFODEV Programme, to address the specific needs of
developing countries. The TDAG noted with satisfaction BDT’s involvement in this area.
14 New ITU Reports:
TELECOM 99 will provide the ITU with a golden opportunity to launch major new reports, such as
the World Telecommunication Development Report 1999, which will focus on mobile cellular
and will present year-end 1998 data, and Trends in Telecommunication Reform 1999, with
particular attention being given to convergence issues.
15 Private Sector Issues:
TDAG meetings are usually provided with a report of the TDAG Sub-group on Private Sector
Issues. However, because of scheduling conflicts, the Sub-Group could only meet after the TDAG
meeting. A more comprehensive report of the Sub-group meeting will therefore be provided at the
next TDAG meeting.
TDAG was nevertheless provided with two contributions, one from the Central African Republic
which provides an overview of telecommunications sector reform in that country (Document
TDAG 2/14), and a contribution from Anatel of Brazil (Document TDAG 2/15), which proposes a
project to promote the growth of industrial and service companies in developing countries trough a
transnational partnership of enterprise incubators. This latter project had been endorsed by the
Valletta Development Conference, but it had not yet been undertaken by the BDT. The Director
stated that this project would be reflected in the BDT Operational Plan 2000.
Finally, the Director shared some preliminary views with TDAG participants on an idea that he had
raised informally with a few delegations, and which pertained to the organization of a Global
Private Sector Forum, the purpose of which would be to assist Member countries of the ITU in
understanding the requirements and needs of the private sector. The Director indicated that he
would submit a contribution on this matter to the next TDAG meeting.
16 Report of the Task Force on Gender Issues
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The Vice-Chair of the Task Force on Gender Issues, Mr. Tony Zeitoun from CIDA, Canada,
presented the report of the second meeting of this group, which was held over the previous week-
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end, September 4 and 5 . The report (Document TDAG 2/12) contains recommendations and a
proposed workplan for year 2000 which cover different Valletta Action Plan programmes. These
include the development of telecommunication training modules with a gender perspective on
policy and regulations, creation of telecenters in rural areas owned and operated by women,
gender training modules to enhance capacity training for trainers in the Centers of Excellence and
partnerships with the private sector. The report was endorsed by TDAG, and submitted to the
Director for inclusion, to the extent feasible, in the Operational Plan 2000.
17 Human Resources Issues
The Head of the BDT Human resource Development and Management Unit, Mr. Jaime Herrera,
provided TDAG participants with a comprehensive contribution on the state of human resource
development in the BDT. He explained that these issues are dealt also under the following three
components:
a) The programs and activities of the Valletta Action Plan, Program No 6: “Capacity building
through human resources management and development”, which is being implemented by the
BDT;
b) Study Group 2 of the Development Sector, Question 15/2: “Human resource management and
development to successfully meet the challenges of sector reform and transformation, with
special emphasis to employment including consideration of gender issues”;
c) The Special Group on Human Resources Development, which reports to Study Group 2, and
which provides guidance on Questions 15/2 and 16/2.
While considerable progress has been achieved in implementation of the VAP programme,
concerns were expressed with regard to the lack of participation in and contributions to the work of
Study Group 2 and the Special Group on human resource issues. The Chair of Study Group 2,
Mr. Nabil Kisrawi of Syria, suggested that the Special Group on Human Resources should
meet over the next few months and present a report to the next TDAG, as well as to each
session of Study Group 2. The Chair of this Special Group, Mr. David Mellor from Cable
&Wireless, indicated that he would do so.
18 Other Business
TDAG is informed of the tentative dates of the next two TDAG and TDAG-related meetings:
the week of February 28-March 3rd, 2000, and the week of October 9th to 13th, 2000. It is
proposed that, during each of these two weeks, meetings of the Special Group on Gender
Issues, of the Sub-group on private sector issues and of the TDAG Bureau (Chair and 14
Vice-Chairs) be held during the above-mentioned dates, prior to the TDAG meeting.
In closing the meeting, the Director thanked Mr. Lee for his solid chairmanship, and expressed his
gratitude to the participants for having ensured a successful outcome to the meeting. Mr. Lee did
likewise, and thanked all those who had contributed to the success of this second TDAG meeting.
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Annex 1
INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)
Document TDAG-2/1(rev.1)-E
Second Meeting of the Telecommunication 13 September 1999
Development Advisory Group (TDAG) Original: English
Geneva, 13-14 September 1999
DRAFT AGENDA
(9h30 -Room “C”)
Documents
1. Opening of the meeting -
2. Approval of the Agenda TDAG-2/1-E
3. “State of the BDT” Address by the Director of BDT -
4. Appointment of Vice-Chairpersons TDAG-2/2-
E
5. Approval of summary record of the First Meeting of TDAG (TDAG-1/19-E)
6. Follow-up of First TDAG Meeting TDAG-2/3-E
7. Form of TDAG reports TDAG-2/4-E
8. ITU-D Study Group meetings:
•= Group on the structure and working methods of the ITU-D Study Groups TDAG-2/5-E
•= Other issues referred to TDAG TDAG-2/13-E
9. Progress Report on VAP Implementation TDAG-2/6-E
10. Report on ITU Council deliberations on development matters TDAG-2/7-E
a) Reduction in the volume of the documentation TDAG-2/8-E
11. Regional Presence TDAG-2/9-E
12. Telecom 99 Development Summit TDAG-2/10-E
13. Y2K TDAG-2/11-E
14. New ITU Reports:
•= World Telecommunication Development Report 1999 TDAG-2/Inf-E
•= Trends in Telecommunication Reform 1999 -
15. Private Sector Issues:
•= Contribution from the Central African Republic TDAG-
2/14-E
•= Contribution from ANATEL (Brazil) TDAG-2/15-E
16. Report of the Task Force on Gender Issues TDAG-2/12-E
17. Human Resources Issues TDAG-2/16-E
18. Other business -
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Annex 2
INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)
Document TDAG-2/22-E
Second Meeting of the Telecommunication 14 September 1999
Development Advisory Group (TDAG) Original: English
Geneva,13-14 September 1999
FINAL LIST OF DOCUMENTS
Document No. Title
(TDAG-1/19) Adoption of the Summary Record of the second Meeting of TDAG
1 Draft Agenda
2 Appointment of Vice-Chairpersons
3 Follow-up of First TDAG Meeting
4 Form of TDAG reports
5 Goup on the structure and working methods of the ITU-D Study Groups
6 Progress Report on VAP Implementation
7 Report on ITU Council deliberations on development matters
8 Reduction in the volume of the documentation
9 Regional Presence
10 Telecom 99 Development Summit
11 Y2K
12 Report of the Task Force on Gender Issues
(English only)
13 Other issues referred to TDAG
14 Contribution from the Centra Africa Republic
15 Contribution from ANATEL (Brazil)
(English only)
16 Human resources
17 Proposed new structure of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)
(English only)
18 Draft Decisional Element on TDAG’s consideration of agenda item 6
(English only)
19 List of new ITU-D Sector Members in 1999
(English only)
20 Executive summary of the Trends in Telecommunications Reform 1999
(English only)
21 Contribution from the Vice-Chairman of ITU-D, SG2 (Mr. M.A. Yussof)
(English only)
22 List of documents
INF-E World Telecom Development Report 1999
(English only)
23 Summary of conlusions
EFS Final List of Participants
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