ITU outlines progress on Global Digital Compact implementation in report to WSIS and SDG working group
A new report from the ITU Secretary-General details advances in digital inclusion, infrastructure investment, AI capacity-building and UN-wide coordination supporting the Global Digital Compact, ahead of broader implementation work under the Pact for the Future.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has submitted an update to the Council Working Group on WSIS and the SDGs, outlining how the organisation is contributing to early implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). The report, dated 8 August 2025, provides an overview of ongoing projects, UN-system coordination and new initiatives emerging from recent multistakeholder events.
The ITU highlights progress in three core areas: connecting people and communities, supporting digital public infrastructure and expanding responsible use of AI. Connectivity efforts include continued work through Giga, a joint initiative with UNICEF to link schools to the internet, and global financing initiatives aimed at mobilising investment for digital infrastructure. The report references broader efforts at international fora to close connectivity gaps, noting the estimated need for USD 1.6 trillion in global digital infrastructure investment.
On AI, ITU points to tools and resources developed through the AI for Good Global Summit, including new guidance for policymakers and technical communities. The organisation also worked with UNESCO, UNDP and other UN agencies to publish the UN AI Toolkit, intended to help governments build capacity for safe and inclusive AI deployment. Additional initiatives presented at AI for Good, such as work on authenticity standards and applications for food systems and agriculture, are included as part of ITU’s contribution to GDC objectives.
The report summarises outcomes from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event, where discussions centred on digital inclusion, governance models and the future of multistakeholder cooperation. ITU notes that the event helped surface shared priorities for implementing the GDC, including strengthening international support for digital skills, expanding secure digital public services and improving participation of underrepresented groups in global digital processes.
A substantial section of the report focuses on ITU’s role within the UN Working Group on Digital Technologies (WGDT), which developed the GDC Implementation Map. This internal framework sets out how UN agencies will collaborate on implementation, including common milestones, monitoring tools and mechanisms for coordinating programmes across the system. The ITU’s contributions also extend to other Pact for the Future working groups addressing digital divides, ICT-related crime, youth engagement and broader governance reform.
The document concludes by reaffirming ITU’s commitment to supporting member states and partners as implementation of the GDC progresses. The organisation notes that many initiatives highlighted in the report will inform discussions at upcoming UN and ITU meetings, as digital cooperation becomes an increasingly central component of global development policy.
