World Development Information Day

World Development Information Day is an international day observed annually on 24 October to raise awareness of development issues and strengthen international cooperation toward their resolution. It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. The day’s fundamental approach is based on promoting awareness of development-related information and enhancing public awareness, particularly among young people, to support international development efforts.^【1】

Within the United Nations, the First Development Decade was launched in 1961. This initiative was followed by the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade, adopted in 1970. The strategy covering the period 1971–1980 established a framework defining the objectives and directions of international development efforts.^【2】

^{BM Merkezinin Dış Görünümü - 1967 (}Library of Congress⁾

Preparations for public information on development goals were also carried out within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). At its third session on 17 May 1972, the conference adopted Resolution 43 (III), which recommended various measures to disseminate information on trade and development issues and mobilize public opinion. The Trade and Development Board also adopted Consensus 89 (XII) on the same subject on 20 October 1972.^【3】

On 17 December 1972, at its 2115th plenary meeting, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed World Development Information Day through Resolution 3038 (XXVII). The date was set as 24 October to coincide with United Nations Day, a choice also linked to the adoption of the International Development Strategy on 24 October 1970.^【4】

The establishing resolution also foresaw the preparation of an activity program for 1973. To this end, the Trade and Development Board was requested to develop a program outline and present concrete proposals at its fifth special session. The Economic and Social Council was tasked with preparing the program for activities to be held that year, taking into account the board’s report at its fifty-fifth session.^【5】

Within the development approach underlying the day, public information was seen as a means of securing societal support for established goals and policies. In developed countries, the aim was to raise awareness of the interdependence of development efforts and the need to support the economic and social progress of developing countries. In developing countries, the goal was to encourage participation from all segments of society by clarifying the benefits of development and the contributions required.^【6】

^{Yemen’de Bilgisayar Başında Çalışan Bir Teknoloji Firması Çalışanı (}DVIDS⁾

The primary responsibility for information activities was assigned to national institutions. Governments were encouraged to either establish new institutions or strengthen existing ones as viable approaches. Integrating development topics into educational programs was adopted as a long-term tool for raising public awareness. It was also deemed necessary for competent authorities to define concrete objectives to guide these efforts.^【7】

Mass media were recognized as key instruments for conveying development-related information to the public. The United Nations’ role in this area was defined as providing fundamental information that national press and publishing organizations could utilize. This aimed to establish a link between the international development agenda and national-level information campaigns.^【8】

Special emphasis was placed on raising awareness among young people about development issues. The dissemination of information and mobilization of public opinion were viewed as complementary elements that would enhance understanding of these issues and strengthen efforts toward international cooperation.^【9】

Information and communication technologies were regarded as tools with the potential to offer new solutions to development challenges. Expanding access to information, supporting economic growth, reducing poverty, and increasing social inclusion were identified as key contributions these technologies could make. Particular attention was paid to enhancing technological capabilities to facilitate the integration of developing countries into the global economy.^【10】

^{Bilgisayar Ekranında İstatistik Verilerinin İşlenmesi (}Unsplash⁾

The ability to benefit from these technologies was closely linked to countries’ existing infrastructure and resources. Deficiencies in financing, education, technical capacity, investment, and connectivity were identified as major barriers to developing countries’ access to new technologies. Disparities in access to communication tools and broadband connections among countries at different levels of development gave rise to the problem of digital inequality. This inequality also affected conditions for utilizing digital applications in areas such as public administration, trade, health, and education.^【11】

The difficulties faced by least developed countries, small island developing States, and landlocked developing countries in accessing broadband connections were also addressed. It was supported that adequate resources should be provided, technical capacity should be strengthened, and technology transfer should occur under mutually agreed conditions. Thus, the contribution of technological capabilities to development was assessed in conjunction with international cooperation aimed at improving access conditions.^【12】

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in September 2015, highlighted the role of data in measuring progress toward development goals. Within this framework, data were deemed essential to be high-quality, accessible, timely, reliable, and disaggregated. These characteristics were linked to monitoring recorded progress and ensuring that no group is left behind in the development process.^【13】

The indicator framework established to monitor development goals encompassed social, economic, and environmental dimensions as well as institutional coherence. This framework, comprising 232 distinct indicators as of 2017, provided a structure for evaluating the various dimensions of development collectively. The scope of the indicators transformed the measurement of progress toward the 2030 Agenda into a broad statistical endeavor.^【14】