At the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), the council adopted a new strategic plan for 2012-2016. This plan is based on extensive consultations with stakeholders, members as well as non-members, and was strongly endorsed by council.
It focuses on five interlinked outputs: vibrant CTO membership committed to its vision; enhanced ICT4D capacity development amongst members; more effective multi-stakeholder ICT4D partnerships operating in Commonwealth countries; greater engagement by the private sector in ICT4D initiatives in Commonwealth countries; and CTO as a thought-leader in six niche areas of expertise: mobile broadband for rural development (including food security); Cybersecurity and cybercrime; ICTs for people with disabilities; the use of ICTs in education, with particular reference to skills development and entrepreneurship; Youth and ICTs; and Regulatory environments, including digital broadcasting switchover.
These areas of expertise have been carefully selected to take into consideration the needs of members, CTO’s core competencies and key issues of importance to the Commonwealth. When examining the plan the Council noted with approval the manner in which it is based on ground realities, both internal and external, while giving due consideration to the achievements of the Organisation.
“It has been a rewarding, though hectic, period of activities for me since taking over as the CEO of CTO last September. The potential impact that the CTO can have in shaping the ICT sector of the Commonwealth, while ensuring real practical benefits for its 2-billion plus people, has been my key motivator to take up the challenge of leading this venerable institution. I am delighted that the Council has adopted the new strategic plan and look forward to working with members and the wider stakeholder community to deliver on our promises,’ said CTO COO Professor Tim Unwin at the time of presenting the strategic plan to the Council.
Speaking after the council granted approval to the strategic plan, Lalith Weeratunga, the chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka extended the well wishes of the entire membership to Prof Unwin and the staff of the CTO, in his capacity as the Chairman of the CTO. “I am sure the members gathered here as well as those who are unable to attend, join me in wishing the CTO secretariat all success in delivering this strategic plan. We recognise that the purpose of the plan is to deliver value and benefits to members themselves, so we stand ready to assist the CTO in whatever form we can.’
