Digital Development Partner Forum 2022
November 14-16, 2022 | Vienna, Austria
Digitalization is one of the greatest transformative opportunities of our time. Amid multiple crises – prompted by conflict, climate shocks, COVID-19 fallout -- digital technologies continue to keep people, governments, and businesses connected. In developing countries, they have an enormous potential to drive green, resilient, and inclusive development.
In light of the rapidly evolving digital agenda, the Digital Development Partner Forum 2022 will bring together partners and other stakeholders to review progress achieved, exchange innovative ideas, discuss remaining challenges, and explore opportunities for partnering for effective cooperation in times of overlapping crises.
Partner Participation
Participation in the Forum is by-invitation only. Each invitee will receive an email invitation with a registration link, as well as additional information on the venue and logistics. We welcome 2-3 senior representatives from each partner organization to attend the Forum.
DDP Forum 2022 Agenda
Download Program
Monday, November 14
| 9:00 – 10:00 |
Registration | Coffee and light refreshments Location: World Bank Office | Praterstrasse 31, Floor 1, 1020 |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Welcome and Opening Remarks Christine Zhenwei Qiang, Director, Digital Development Global Practice, World Bank |
| 10:15 – 11:00 | Setting the Scene: Digital Development in the New Development Context Vivien Foster, Chief Economist, Infrastructure Practice Group, World Bank Overlapping catastrophes during the past two years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a rise in armed conflict, and natural disasters fueled by climate change, have reversed human development around the world. Like never before, digital technologies have proven critical to supporting national resilience, and keeping people, governments, and businesses connected. At the same time, they continue to carry great risks of exacerbating economic and social divides and creating new privacy and security vulnerabilities. The session will review recent digital development trends, their key risks and opportunities for more effective global cooperation, with a focus on recent and future crises. |
| 11:00 – 12:30 | Digital Development Partnership: Key Results and Lessons Learned The session will highlight the role DDP has played in shaping the global digital agenda and supporting client countries in their digitalization journeys over the past six years. The session will also include a moderated panel discussion, zooming in on the progress made in Africa, Europe and Central Asia, key initiatives, as well as highlighting the remaining challenges and opportunities to scale the work. |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30 – 14:45 | Scaling Up Digital at the World Bank: Our Emerging Vision for the Future The session will provide an overview of the World Bank’s renewed vision to assist client countries in leveraging technologies and data to accelerate green, inclusive, and resilient digitalization. The session will then include a moderated discussion with partners on the key elements of the proposed strategy: Do we have the right level of ambition? What will it take to succeed? What is missing? |
| 14:45 – 15:00 | Coffee Break |
| 15:00 – 17:00 | Connecting the Dots: Partners’ Strategic Priorities The session will feature select partners’ presentations on their key strategic priorities. The session will also discuss the alignment of the partners’ priorities with the World Bank’s vision for scaling up digital and ways to strengthen cooperation between the partners and the World Bank to achieve meaningful results at scale. |
| 17:00 – 17:15 | Wrap-up of Day 1 |
Tuesday, November 15
| 8:00 – 8:30 | Coffee/Tea and Light Refreshments |
| 8:30 – 10:00 |
Digital Development Partnership: FY23 Partnership Council Meeting This is an official FY23 Partnership Council meeting for donors contributing to the DDP Umbrella Trust Fund. Other partners are welcome to attend as observers. The session will review and endorse the Tranche VIl workplan (to be distributed to partners ahead of the Forum) and discuss other programming and administrative matters of the trust fund. |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Re-cap of Day 1 |
| 10:30 – 12:30 | Putting the Vision into Focus: Technical Deep Dives The technical deep dives will zoom into the following key strategic priority topics: Digital Data Infrastructure Data is a key economic asset providing unprecedented opportunities for development. The social and economic value of data can be maximized by scaling up investment in data infrastructure and services, strengthening data governance, and development of integrated data management infrastructure, platforms, and analytical capabilities. Digital for Climate Change Digital innovation offers potentially game-changing opportunities for a green transition, while the greening of digital technologies itself is critical to achieve digitalization in a sustainable way. A partnership approach is necessary to help close the enormous gaps in financing of green digital infrastructure in developing countries. Bridging the Digital Divide Narrowing the gap in access, adoption, and usage of digital technologies, data, and services will entail reducing affordability, cultural, and physical barriers, and utilizing digital tools to expand access to markets, employment, and educational opportunities for all. Greater collaboration between the public and private sectors is key to closing the digital divide. |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30 – 14:45 | The Role of the Private Sector in Accelerating Digitalization Harnessing the full potential of digitalization requires strong partnerships with the private sector. The session will explore the role that the private sector plays in supporting developing countries in their digital transformation journeys and explore effective engagement modalities with the private sector in the new development context. |
| 14:45 – 15:00 | Coffee Break |
| 15:00 – 16:15 | Digital Development Partnership 2.0: Charting the Path Forward Together The session will provide an opportunity to reflect on key takeaways from the discussions during the two days and jointly chart the forward-looking path for DDP 2.0: What will our success look like? What would be most effective intervention models and engagement modalities in DDP 20? How can we program resources more effectively to further strengthen DDP impact? |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Closing Remarks Pablo Fajnzylber, Director, Strategy and Operations, Infrastructure Practice Group, World Bank |
Wednesday, November 16
| 8:30 – 9:45 | Cybersecurity MDTF Steering Committee Update on the status of the work, funding and financial situation, and partnerships. Planning of our next steps and schedule for this fiscal year. Arrangements for future programming of activities. (Preparation will be shared ahead of the meeting) |
| 10:15 – 11:30 | Technical Deep Dive: Systematizing Cyber Solutions for Low- and Middle-Income countries This session will offer a technical briefing on how we are rolling out cybersecurity solutions in low- and middle-income countries. The session will feature short presentations by Task Team Leaders from different regions. We hope to foster a better understanding for our technical approaches, and the complementarity of WB trust funds and WB loans and grants. The session will also give insights into gaps that remain in the agenda, and opportunities to join hands to close these gaps, together. Grants to be presented and discussed: Nigeria, Regional East Africa, Mongolia, Nepal, Caribbean/Dominica |
| 12:30 | Cybersecurity Team Lunch |
| 9:00 – 17:00 | Bilateral Meetings In parallel, we will offer opportunities for bilateral meetings between partners and the World Bank management. Time slots for bilateral meetings to discuss any specific follow-up will be scheduled upon request. Bilateral meetings with Christine Qiang can be scheduled from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon. Please reach out to Elena if you would like to schedule a meeting. |
Travel & Logistics
Venue
| The DDP Partner Forum will be held at the World Bank Office in Vienna, Austria, at the following address: Praterstrasse 31, Floor 1 1020 Vienna, Austria Phone: +43 1 2170797 |
Registration
| Please ensure that you are registered to attend the Partner Forum. We welcome 2-3 senior representatives from each partner organization. |
Travel + Accomodations
| Participants are responsible for their own flight and hotel arrangements. The World Bank has blocked a number of rooms at the Novotel Wien City Hotel, at the special rate of EUR 168.56€ per night (standard double room for single use, rate includes buffet breakfast). This hotel is about five minutes walking distance away from the World Bank Office. Novotel Wien City Hotel Aspernbrückengasse 1, 1020 Wien Contact person: Melanie Kainrath Tel: +43 1 903 03 991 E-Mail: H6154-RE1@accor.com Website: https://all.accor.com/hotel/6154/index.de.shtml You will have to provide your credit card to guarantee the room reservation. If you prefer to stay elsewhere, below are some alternative hotel options that are close to the World Bank Office (about 5-10 minutes walking distance): Sofitel Hotel Praterstrasse 1 1020 Vienna Tel: +43 1 906160 Email: sovienna@so-hotels.com Website: https://so-vienna.com/en/ Approximate rate - 240€ per night Stefanie Hotel Taborstrasse 1 1020 WIEN Tel: +43 1 211 50 0 E-mail: stefanie@schick-hotels.com Website: https://www.hotelstefanie.wien Approximate rate - 130€ per night |
Facilities
| Upon arrival at the World Bank Office, we will provide you with an access code that will give you access to the conference facilities on the building’s first floor. Please do not share the code. Coffee, light refreshments and lunch will be served at the Forum venue throughout the event. Please let us know if you have any food allergies or special dietary needs. |
COVID-19 Restrictions
| Please note that due to COVID-19 related restrictions all participants will be required to be tested prior to the event. You will have the following options to be tested: Antigen tests at Novotel: For those partners staying at Novotel, antigen test kits will be provided at the hotel reception for your convenience. If you plan to attend the Sunday evening welcome cocktail reception, please self-administer the test prior to the start of the reception. Antigen tests at the World Bank building: For those partners who are unable to test at the hotel, antigen test kits will be provided at the World Bank building during the morning registration on November 14th. Please factor in additional time in the morning to self-administer the test prior to the start of the sessions. World Bank staff will be available to assist you. Please contact Svetlana Berdenova schevozerova@worldbank.org if you need additional test kits during the week. Masks: Please be aware that you will be required to wear masks in the common areas of the World Bank Office (wearing masks in conference rooms is optional). In case you decide to use public transportation in Vienna, you will also be required to wear a mask. Masks will also be available for you at the Forum. |
Documents + Website Access + WiFi
| The Forum aims to utilize digital technologies whenever possible to reduce printing and minimize our footprint. Please note that all documentation (agenda, Forum information, etc.) can be found on the official Partner Forum website: https://www.digitaldevelopmentpartnership.org/pf2022.html QR codes with a direct link to the Forum agenda will be provided at the venue for easy access on your mobile devices. WiFi connection will be available in the meeting rooms. The password will be provided upon arrival. |
Transportation
| The Novotel Wien City Hotel is located approximately 20 minutes away from the Vienna International Airport (19km). Taxis are always available outside the passenger terminal. You may also use the City Airport Train (CAT) instead of a taxi. CAT trains arrive at the Wien Mitte Station, located approximately 15 minutes’ walk (1100 m) away from the hotel (or one metro station if using the metro from Wien Mitte). |
Participants-only Access Area
Please use your password to log in and view a detailed logistics note, download slide decks and any other background information relevant to the sessions of the Forum.
Authenticated
For any questions about the Forum, please contact Elena Babkova.