Since its establishment in 2010, ESCWA Technology Centre has been assisting the member countries to harness science and technology for enhancing their socio-economic development and establishing their national technology development and transfer systems. In support of addressing the challenges of the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development which was launched in late 2015, ETC developed a responsive work plan targeted towards assisting the member countries in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Online Workshop on E-Government: Policies and Strategies, which was held from 15 January to 12 March 2007, constitutes an activity under the Development Account project, entitled “Capacitybuilding for ICT policymaking”, which is being implemented by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in collaboration with the regional commissions of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Given the important uses of purchasing power parities (PPPs) in the formulation of economic policies and in monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Western Asia has been working towards the regular production of PPPs by constructing a continuous annual PPP time series and establishing the International Comparison Program (ICP) as a permanent element within the regular statistical work programs, an initiative which has granted the region a leading position within the global ICP community.

The WSIS recommendations include proposals to launch strategies at national and regional levels, focusing on a number of areas, including universal access to information, affordable information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and services, and an enabling environment based on clear policies, laws and regulations, as expressed in the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action.