Nokia’s innovation centre drives ICT skills development | Episode 121 – ITWeb

Report on Journalistic Integrity and Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The organization’s adherence to a national code of ethics demonstrates a direct contribution to the advancement of Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

• Promotion of Accountable Institutions: By committing to the Press Council of South Africa’s Code of Ethics, the organization supports the development of transparent and accountable media institutions. This aligns with Target 16.6.
• Ensuring Public Access to Information: The core principles of truthful, accurate, and fair reportage are fundamental to Target 16.10, which seeks to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.
• Providing Access to Justice: A clearly defined public complaints procedure provides a mechanism for remedy and accountability, supporting Target 16.3 by promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice.

Procedural Framework for Accountability

A formal process is in place for stakeholders to address grievances concerning news coverage, ensuring institutional accountability.

1. Official Complaint Portal: Complaints can be lodged via the Press Council’s official website at www.presscouncil.org.za.
2. Electronic Mail Submission: Complaints may be emailed to enquiries@ombudsman.org.za.
3. Direct Communication: The Press Council can be contacted by telephone at 011 484 3612.

Contributions to Broader Development Goals

• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The dissemination of accurate and fair information is a prerequisite for an informed citizenry, contributing to inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The relationship between the media outlet and the Press Council exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership (Target 17.17) aimed at strengthening ethical governance to achieve sustainable development.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article, through its limited text, connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary connections are derived from two key phrases: “Nokia’s innovation centre drives ICT skills development” found in the image source, and the paragraph detailing the commitment to the Press Council of South Africa’s Code of Ethics.

• SDG 4: Quality Education – Directly addressed through the focus on “ICT skills development”.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Addressed by the mention of an “innovation centre” and the focus on “ICT” (Information and Communications Technology).
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Connected via the commitment to the Press Council’s Code of Ethics, which promotes fair reporting and accountability, key elements of strong institutions.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Implied by the involvement of a private sector entity (Nokia) in driving skills development, which represents a private sector contribution to achieving development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

Explanation: The article’s mention of an initiative that “drives ICT skills development” directly aligns with this target. The goal of such a centre is to equip individuals with relevant technical skills (ICT) to improve their employability and entrepreneurial capacity.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers.
• Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet.

Explanation: The existence of “Nokia’s innovation centre” directly supports Target 9.5 by fostering innovation and upgrading technological capabilities. Developing ICT skills, as mentioned, is a fundamental prerequisite for increasing the meaningful use and access to ICT, as outlined in Target 9.c.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

Explanation: The article’s text explicitly states a commitment to a Code of Ethics that prescribes “truthful, accurate and fair” reportage. This commitment, along with the provision of an accountability mechanism through the Press Council, directly supports the goal of ensuring public access to reliable information, which is a cornerstone of this target.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

Explanation: The initiative is led by Nokia, a private corporation. This is a clear example of the private sector contributing to national development goals (skills development), which embodies the spirit of public-private partnerships promoted by this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicator for Target 4.4

• Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill.

Explanation: The article’s focus on “ICT skills development” directly implies that the success of such an initiative would be measured by the increase in the proportion of people possessing these specific skills.

Indicator for Target 9.5

• Indicator 9.5.1: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.

Explanation: An “innovation centre” run by a company like Nokia represents private sector investment in research and development. The existence and operation of such a centre are a tangible contribution to this indicator.

Indicator for Target 16.10

• Indicator 16.10.2: Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.

Explanation: The article’s reference to the Press Council of South Africa and its Code of Ethics is a direct example of a national-level policy and institutional framework designed to guarantee the quality and fairness of public information. The media outlet’s adherence to this code is a practical implementation of such a guarantee.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: itweb.co.za