The Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict), through its Smart Cities for All (SC4A) global Initiative has partnered with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the largest global network of cities, and the cities of Kisumu (Kenya) and São Paulo (Brazil).

ATLANTA (October 31, 2022) — Today, marking the United Nations World Cities Day, G3ict and UCLG jointly announced an agreement to help cities buy and deploy technology solutions that work for everyone, including people with disabilities and older persons, to contribute towards a better, safer, accessible, peaceful, and more equitable future. “The investments in and use of new technologies must improve the quality of life and promote a diversity-responsive economy for a resilient and inclusive future, shaped by equitable public services for all,” underlined Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG.

“We are proud to be partnering with UCLG to bring our expert technical assistance to even more cities worldwide,” said James Thurston, G3ict’s Vice President for Global Strategy and Development. “Not only is UCLG the recognized global convening place for cities, but they also share our commitment to a broad and inclusive digital transformation of cities.”

In the framework of this innovative partnership, G3ict is welcoming two UCLG member cities – Kisumu (Kenya) and São Paulo (Brazil) – into its Inclusive Procurement Launchpad program. With their participation, the Launchpad program now encompasses a total of five cities around the world working towards inclusive procurement process that supports more accessible digital city services for all, including persons with disabilities.

“Access for everyone living in São Paulo City to accessible and inclusive services and technologies is a fundamental pillar for guaranteeing human rights in the city. The construction of cities and territories that are inclusive and accessible to all permeates the most diverse themes, and information and communication technologies are fundamental for the full guarantee of these rights,” said Ricardo Nunes, Mayor of São Paulo.

“There can be no true inclusivity when sections of our communities are not facilitated to equally access all services. Technology presents immense opportunity to cities in advancing quality of service to all, and in Kisumu, we are committed to ensuring that those opportunities and benefits are realized and harnessed,” said Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Governor Kisumu County. “We are pleased to collaborate to implement a policy that will help us ensure human rights are realized and digitalization works for all.”

As cities worldwide lead a digital transformation of government services and activities, they are uniquely positioned to use their considerable purchasing power, including of ICT, to advance the rights and digital inclusion of persons with disabilities and older persons. G3ict has partnered with the World Economic Forum to first create and now help cities adopt the G20 Smart City Alliance model policy for purchasing accessible technologies as defined by global standards.

“We are pleased to see Kisumu and Sao Paolo become pioneer cities in championing accessibility through their procurement,” said Christy Mitchell, Lead, Urban Transformation – G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance, World Economic Forum, who leads the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance. “The Launchpad will support these cities to ensure new technologies are procured with accessibility in mind – putting equity at the heart of public spending.”

The project, initiated in 2021 in partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Secretariat for the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance, helps cities worldwide adopt technology procurement policies that support greater inclusion of persons with disabilities. Under the program, G3ict and its global network of expert partners first worked with the city of Los Angeles, and now is working with Istanbul and Quito to adopt the World Economic Forum’s model policy. G3ict has been able to design and implement the global Inclusive Procurement Launchpad program with funding support from the Microsoft Corporation.

For more information about this global initiative to support more inclusive smart cities and to learn more about helping your city, visit the G3ict Inclusive Procurement Launchpad Project webpage.


ABOUT UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (UCLG)

UCLG, as a global network of cities and local, regional, and metropolitan governments and their associations, is committed to representing, defending, and amplifying the voices of local and regional governments to leave no-one and no place behind. Together we are the sentinels of the hopes, dreams, and aspirations held by individuals in communities around the world searching for a life in which the ideals of the SDGs are a lived reality. For more information, please visit the UCLG website.

ABOUT G3ICT

G3ict – the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies – is an advocacy initiative launched in December 2006, in cooperation with the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at UN DESA. Its mission is to facilitate and support the implementation of the dispositions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) promoting digital accessibility and Assistive Technologies. Participating organizations include industry, academia, the public sector, and organizations representing persons with disabilities. G3ict promotes good practices in digital accessibility policies and programs and provides tools for advocates around the world, including its Digital Accessibility Rights Evaluation Index (DARE Index) designed to benchmark countries’ progress. Through its division IAAP, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, G3ict offers professional development resources and certification to more than 2,000 members in 46 countries. For more information, please visit the G3ict website.

ABOUT SMART CITIES FOR ALL

In 2016, G3ict partnered with leading civil society and industry organizations to launch the Smart Cities for All global initiative. Since then, Smart Cities for All has defined the state of ICT accessibility in cities worldwide and created tools and a path forward to improve the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities and older persons. The goal of Smart Cities for All is to eliminate the digital divide for persons with disabilities and older persons in urban environments around the world. The global initiative partners with leading organizations and companies to create and deploy the tools and strategies needed to build more inclusive Smart Cities. For more information, please visit the Smart Cities for All website.

 

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Contact: Mahtab Irani, Communications Manager, G3ict, mirani@g3ict.org