The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the GSMA have announced a new partnership to address the digital divide in Uganda. The two organizations will collaborate with policymakers, regulators, and the private sector to define how to advance inclusive digital growth, focusing on jointly identified policy priorities.

Around the world, digital innovations are empowering people with unprecedented access to information and life-enhancing services while unlocking new opportunities for economic growth. Yet, many people remain excluded from enjoying the benefits of an increasingly connected society.

In Uganda, for example, around 11 million people use mobile internet (23% of the population), even though mobile broadband networks covered 35 million people (75% of the population) in 2020. Such unequal access and use of the Internet and digital tools leaves many behind, disproportionately impacting the poor, women, rural populations, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. These digital inequalities will only persist without targeted action and deliberate policy interventions.

"Much emphasis and resources have been devoted to expanding mobile broadband infrastructure. However, the adoption of mobile and digital technologies has not kept pace,” said Melle Tiel Groenestege, Director of Digital Inclusion Policy & Advocacy at the GSMA. “It is therefore a top priority for the mobile industry and its partners to find solutions to the challenges that people face in using digital services. Our collaboration will greatly help to advance such efforts in Uganda.”

A lack of digital skills was identified as one of the most significant barriers to mobile internet adoption and use by those aware of it in Uganda. Many Ugandans still lack the skills to use mobile internet and perform basic money transfer and payment functions. The country scored 33% on digital skills, according to the 2021 Uganda Inclusive Digital Economy Score Card report. This not only leaves many excluded, it also leaves people more vulnerable to safety and security risks. More advanced digital skills are also crucial to accelerate inclusive digital growth, for example for the use or development of digital solutions by small and micro-enterprises and start-ups.

“Through our Inclusive Digital Economies Programme, UNCDF is working to empower underserved geographies to access and use digital solutions that improve their well-being,” said Chris Lukolyo, UNCDF Uganda Digital Lead.

“This collaboration will help to address the digital skills barriers that hamper access to and usage of digital and financial services in Uganda and empower underserved communities to put digital resources to use for better lives and livelihoods.”

This partnership complements UNCDF’s digital agenda of ‘Leaving No One Behind in the Digital Era’, which aims to empower one million Ugandans by 2024 to use digital services that leverage innovation and technology in the sectors of agriculture, education, health, energy, and finance, thus contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.