The World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS) provided a framework for raising the awareness of policymakers of the need for statistics and indicators to measure the digital divide. Statistical measurement of the information society featured prominently in the two phases of WSIS (Geneva, 10-12 December 2003 and Tunis, 15-18 November 2005). The Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development actively contributed to the WSIS process and follow-up.

The Geneva phase highlighted the importance of benchmarking and measuring progress toward the information society through internationally comparable statistical indicators (Geneva Plan of Action, para. 28). 

The Tunis phase recognized that the development of ICT indicators is important for measuring the digital divide, and called upon countries and international organizations to allocate appropriate resources for the provision of ICT statistics and to develop effective measurement methodologies, including basic ICT indicators and an analysis of the state of the Information Society (Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, para. 112-120).

In particular, member States called for periodic evaluation, using an agreed methodology, and referring to the work of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development.

Contributions by the Partnership in the context of the WSIS process and follow-up include:

• December 2003 WSIS Side Event: Monitoring the Information Society - Data, Measurement and Methods, Geneva
• June 2004 UNCTAD XI Parallel Event: Implementing the WSIS Plan of Action - Issues for Trade and Development, Sao Paulo - Session II: "Monitoring and benchmarking e-business"
• Oct-Nov 2004 WSIS 2nd Regional Preparatory Conference for Western Asia, Beirut - Roundtable on Information Society Indicators and Profiles in Western Asia
• November 2004 Contribution to the document by the Group of Friends of the Chair (GFC) of the PrepCom of WSIS
• Jan-Feb 2005 WSIS Africa Regional Preparatory Conference on the Evaluation of the Implementation of the Geneva Plan of Action & ICT indicators, Accra - Session 2 workshop on indicators and benchmarking
• February 2005 WSIS Thematic Meeting on Measuring the Information Society, Geneva
• November 2005 WSIS Parallel Event on "Measuring the Information Society", Tunis. The outcome was reported to the Summit Plenary and the WSIS Tunis outcome recognized the work of the Partnership.
• November 2005 Launch at WSIS Tunis of the Partnership publications "Core ICT Indicators" [Eng], [Fr], [Sp] and "Measuring ICT: The Global Status of ICT Indicators"