We contributed to advancing digital inclusion across the Arab region through our participation in the two-day “Accessible Arab Region” workshop held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Amman, Jordan. The event was organised under the patronage of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) of Jordan, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
The workshop convened participants from across the Arab region, including representatives from governments, telecommunications companies, international and regional organisations, civil society, and start-ups focused on empowering youth, women, persons with disabilities, and older persons. Its core objectives included strengthening regional collaboration on ICT accessibility, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and developing actionable recommendations for building inclusive digital ecosystems.
The operating unit was represented by expert Morten Meyerhoff Nielsen, who contributed to the session “Empowering People Through ICT”. The session explored the enabling role of accessible digital services in supporting equitable access to education, healthcare, and employment. It also highlighted the importance of inclusive design in bridging the digital divide and ensuring socio-economic participation for all.
Digital inclusion goes beyond literacy, affordable and reliable access to the internet and devices. Built on web accessibility standards such as WCAG AA, it must also focus on intuitive service design, recognisable look-and-feel, and everyday language use. In our work with governments and end-users, we see that countries with mandatory digital design and service standards are relatively more successful in improving access and use of online service offers through user-centric design and user-friendliness, across service silos and levels of government.
The workshop featured high-level contributions from His Excellency Eng. Bassam Al-Sarhan (TRC), Dr. Cosmas Zavazava and Mr. Adel Darwish (ITU), and Dr. Tarek Elami (ESCWA), among others. Their presence and input underscored the strong regional commitment to building inclusive and accessible digital societies.
The event reaffirmed a shared resolve among governments, industry, and civil society to ensure that information and communication technologies serve everyone, leaving no one behind.