The present digital strategy (2021) aims to advance digital technology deployment internally at ESCWA in line with the organization’s longer-term objectives of serving member States and other external stakeholders. It sets the strategic direction to leverage digital technologies during the implementation of the ESCWA internal innovation strategy and the ESCWA data strategy, so that the organization can consolidate digital production for targeted and more effective utilization at the institutional level.

Through a standard SWOT analysis, the document maps the current digital landscape at ESCWA and scopes the path forward in four work components: digitization of knowledge assets; digitization of work processes; digital cooperation; and digital capacity-building with the ultimate objective of realizing a more agile ESCWA in servicing its stakeholders.

To capture the potential of digital opportunities via a structured approach, the strategy also details the following work requirements: structure, people and process. By further detailing the “process” requirement in five stages, the Strategy creates further impetus to enhance implementation with all on board.

The strategy stipulates the formation of a Digital Strategy Action Group to service ESCWA users and a wider user community of stakeholders, to develop a comprehensive action plan and to collaborate in the digital space according to the mandate of the United Nations-wide 2018 High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation.

In consultation with ESCWA clusters and specialized personnel, the present document recognizes the ongoing digital initiatives, including the existing digitization mandate across the organization. It provides a set of recommendations and a framework to track the overall implementation progress. The strategy benefited from relevant United Nations initiatives and work documents and recognized best practices in this domain. The strategy will be implemented by the whole of ESCWA, guided by a time-bound and resource-based action plan.