CTO Council Announces new Strategic Plan

The Council of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), has approved a new Strategic Plan for the organisation for the that will for four years spanning the of period 2016 – 2020.

The new plan is structured around six goals and 26 strategic objectives, which include enhancing the value of the CTO membership and expanding the CTO’s membership base as well as increasing CTO membership from Commonwealth countries, non- Commonwealth countries and the ICT Sector.

It is also expected to raise funds for development activities to support members through the Development Assistance Programme, promote South-South and North- South cooperation among Member Countries, promoting enabling regulatory environments and reviewing and strengthening the CTO’s capacity building programmes.

The new plan is in line with the vision presented to the Council by Mr Shola Taylor, secretary-general of the Council, when he assumed office in September 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya and which is aimed at transforming the CTO for enhanced value for its membership.

The approved four-year Plan, which was first endorsed by the CTO’s Executive Committee in February, is an ambitious drive to make greater use the CTO’s status as an intergovernmental organisation, its strong historical position as a platform for consultation, and its wide member and partner network across five continents to enhance value for all its members.

As a result, the new mission statement of the organisation is to provide result-focused ICT leadership in the Commonwealth and beyond.

Speaking shortly after Council’s approval, Taylor said that this new Strategic Plan is the result of wide and thorough consultations with all our stakeholders, including for the first time all employees of the organisation.

He expressed appreciation for “the input we received from members during this three months planning process; the Plan is designed to assist them as well as the global community in achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals adopted last year, and I am confident that our new strategic goals reflect our members and partners’ expectations.”

According to him, ICTs provide the underpinning for our members’ socio-economic development efforts, just as health or education, and the CTO is ready to move in the direction set out in the new Plan in full support of all members.

Taylor disclosed that the introduction of Member Action Plan would be effective from next month as the main mechanism to respond to members’ needs, adding that as part of this new approach, Member Account Managers have been appointed from the existing staff to maintain regular engagement with each member of the organisation.