Belize
- Carlos Lugo
Intermediate
Event Organizer(s)
Supported by
Description
The Digital Alliance between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean (EU–LAC) represents a strategic commitment to promote an equitable, inclusive, and people-centered digital transformation across both regions. Within the framework of the Global Gateway strategy, the European Union is fostering significant investments in digital infrastructure in Central America and the Dominican Republic, with the objective not only of expanding access to technology, but also of ensuring the adoption of international standards related to gender equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
In this context, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) leads the Regulatory Innovation Project, aimed at supporting beneficiary countries in modernizing their regulatory frameworks and adopting innovative regulatory approaches, such as regulatory sandboxes, innovation laboratories, and regulatory experimentation centers. These mechanisms are essential to respond agilely to rapid technological change, foster innovation, attract private investment, and strengthen economic and social development. The project is implemented through the design and deployment of flexible and adaptive regulatory frameworks, the strengthening of technical and institutional capacities, and the implementation of advanced regulatory experimentation tools.
These actions not only contribute to regulatory modernization but also ensure alignment with international standards and best practices. Within this effort, Public Utilities Commission (PUC) play a key role by promoting open collaboration spaces with the private sector and other digital ecosystem stakeholders. This collaborative approach facilitates the co-creation of regulatory solutions, encourages the adoption of emerging technologies, reduces regulatory risks associated with innovation, and strengthens an enabling environment for investment and sustainable development in the telecommunications sector.
The workshop is addressed to representatives of institutions and organizations involved in the formulation and implementation of regulatory policies in the telecommunications and digital sector, including national authorities, operators, and service providers. It also targets regulators from other sectors with digital relevance, for whom these mechanisms may enhance regulatory management and sectoral development.
Additionally, the workshop is designed for regional experts in regulatory innovation, private sector representatives involved in emerging technologies, as well as members of academia, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders contributing to the development of an inclusive, sustainable, and innovative digital ecosystem.
Qualifications or experience needed to participate in this training course:
- Professional profile and country: Participants must be delegates from regulatory authorities or telecommunications operators involved in innovation, regulation, or digital transformation in Central America and Dominican Republic.
- Experience or interest in regulated sectors, with a focus on telecommunications and digital transformation.
- Understanding of methodological processes, stages of innovation processes, digital development and transformation, definition of success indicators, and project evaluation and management.
- Ability and willingness to lead technical working teams supporting regulatory innovation calls or initiatives.
- Education: Degree in Telecommunications Engineering, Bachelor’s degree in Science (or equivalent) in Social Sciences (Economics, Public Policy), or a related discipline (e.g. Political Science).
- Language: Fluency in English is required.
- Strong encouragement for applications from telecommunications operators and policymakers from developing countries.
- Applicants must submit a detailed CV, a letter of recommendation from the employer or a letter of motivation, and complete an application questionnaire.
- Selection will be carried out by the course organizers based on the above requirements, as well as an assessment of the application questionnaire and the letter of recommendation/motivation submitted by each applicant.
Number of available slots: 50 participants
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Actively participate in the conceptualization of a regulatory sandbox model and other regulatory experimentation mechanisms for their sector, understanding entry and exit dynamics and their direct impact on operations, service development, and innovation validation.
- Identify and prioritize regulatory challenges in the telecommunications sector to propose and experiment with emerging digital segments, using a collaborative Design Thinking process that simulates the initial phase of a regulatory experimentation cycle.
- Strengthen collaborative networks and dialogue among ecosystem stakeholders (companies, industry associations, regulators, partners), laying the foundations for strategic alliances and high-impact joint projects.
- Validate the steps required to implement a regulatory sandbox model or other experimentation mechanisms, using the information and prototypes generated during the workshop.
This process will directly contribute to improving national regulation by integrating the private sector perspective from the design and experimentation stages, reducing risks associated with untested innovations, and fostering a continuous learning environment.
This process will directly contribute to improving national regulation by integrating the private sector perspective from the design and experimentation stages, reducing risks associated with untested innovations, and fostering a continuous learning environment.
The workshop will apply the regulatory sandbox methodology and other experimentation and ideation approaches such as Design Thinking, aimed at generating valuable insights, fostering creativity, and facilitating the co-creation of regulatory solutions tailored to the telecommunications sector in Belize.
The workshop will be conducted over two intensive working days, structured in interactive phases inspired by the functioning of regulatory sandboxes, public policy labs, and experimental innovation centers. Each phase will be guided by trigger questions designed to promote critical reflection, collaboration, and innovative proposals, integrating sustainability, inclusion, and human rights perspectives.
Learning assessment is based on automated knowledge checks and a final assessment covering all modules.
Activity
Module knowledge checks 40%
Interactive exercises and scenarios 20%
Final assessment 40%
Total 100%
A total score of 70% or higher is required to obtain the ITU certificate.
Day 1
Registration: 8:00 - 9:00
Welcome coffee, participant integration, and initial networking
Opening Ceremony and Protocol: 09:00 – 09:20
Workshop context, agenda, and general objectives
Opening remarks by ITU, EU, PUC
Introduction to Regulatory Innovation 09:30 – 10:00
Regulatory innovation mechanisms and controlled experimentation
Agile methodologies as a practical approach to addressing complex challenges and fostering the co-creation of disruptive and sustainable solutions.
Training activites
Introductory presentation with reflection questions:
- What is the theoretical framework of regulatory innovation?
- What currently hinders innovation in the telecommunications sector?
- How can regulatory sandboxes help overcome these obstacles?
- What lessons do we expect to gain from applying regulatory innovation mechanisms?
Regulatory Sandbox Experiences: Inspiration and Lessons Learned for National Regulation. 10:00 - 12:30
Analysis of case studies from Colombia, Brazil, and Spain, identifying high-potential emerging digital segments such as 5G, GovTech, and Artificial Intelligence.
Training activities
Practical experience-sharing session guided by key questions:
What regulatory challenges do our companies/institutions face?
What unmet connectivity needs do users have?
What is the most urgent challenge to address?
How do we prioritize challenges based on impact and feasibility?
Designing Innovative Solutions and Sandbox Prototypes (Ideation and Prototyping Phases): 13:30 - 16:30
Development of proposals tailored to local challenges, incorporating gender, sustainability, and human rights perspectives, using:
- Emerging technologies radar
- Regulatory opportunity and risk mapping
- Regulatory sandbox canvas
Training activities
Face-to-face session covering key regulatory sandbox concepts and a simulation-based activity, including stages, requirements, evaluation, and exit strategies.
Working groups will design regulatory innovation solutions through posters, mind maps, brainstorming, and other collaborative tools.
Guiding questions:
What non-traditional solutions could we test?
What would an ideal solution that benefits all stakeholders look like?
How can we build a rapid prototype?
What metrics should be included to measure success?
Day 2
Dialogue: Building Alliances for Implementation: 08:30 – 9:30
Presentation of ideas and prototypes
Initial round of insights and analysis of common and specific challenges
Participatory space to connect key actors of the regulatory innovation ecosystem, aimed at defining concrete actions and promoting the implementation of regulatory sandboxes, public policy labs, and innovation centers.
Training activities
Key questions:
Which alliances are critical for implementation?
How can sustainability and scalability be ensured?
What next steps should be validated to implement prototypes or models?
Towards a Roadmap for Sandbox Implementation: 10:00 - 11:30
Consolidation of learnings and development of a concrete action plan.
Design of regulatory pilots: objectives, KPIs, risks, monitoring, and evaluation.
Pilot design using visual tools.
Case study: Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Sandbox.
Training activities
Face-to-face session focused on the collaborative design of regulatory pilots, including objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), risks, and work plans, using visual tools and a case study on an Artificial Intelligence regulatory sandbox
Designing an Open Call for the Regulatory Sandbox 11:30 - 13:30
Strategic planning of an open call process, ensuring transparency, clear criteria, and alignment with the objectives of the sandbox.
Expected outcome: Preliminary document including an action plan, timeline, and assigned responsibilities for the open call.
Face-to-face (F2F) session: step-by-step identification of the process to launch an open call:
Definition of the objectives and scope of the call.
Alternative mechanisms and adaptive regulatory approaches.
Design of selection and evaluation criteria.
Outreach strategies and inclusive participation.
Training activities
Expected outcome: Preliminary document including an action plan, timeline, and assigned responsibilities for the open call.
Guiding questions:
What concrete steps must be taken over the next 6–12 months?
How will the success of the sandbox be measured in the short and medium term?
What risks should be anticipated, and how can they be mitigated?
Tutors
Registration information
Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.
