New phase of the strategic partnership to support GSMA Mobile for Development's focus on gender and digital inclusion, climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience, and digital innovation in low- and middle-income countries.
February 26, 2024, London: A new phase of the partnership between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the GSMA, which represents the mobile industry worldwide, was announced today at MWC Barcelona. The £37.3m strategic partnership will accelerate digital innovation for socio-economic and climate impact and help break down barriers to digital inclusion in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), impacting the lives of millions of people. people.
In low- and middle-income countries, mobile phones are the main – and often the only – way for more than 3.5 billion people to connect to the Internet. In addition to existing services, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are enabling the development of smarter, data-driven solutions to address socioeconomic and climate-related challenges. Mobile technology also has the potential to be an enabler of scale for emerging and innovative companies, providing critical infrastructure for payments, communications and content, and enabling new, more direct access to markets and customers.
However, multiple barriers still prevent countries, companies and citizens from unleashing the full power of digital technologies. These include persistent gaps in use, coverage and gender; problems in overcoming the still nascent financing ecosystems for digital innovation; challenges in scaling emerging technologies, especially AI, due to insufficient availability of local data and skills, or lack of relevant frameworks, particularly around privacy and ethics.
Mobile for Development (M4D) brings together the mobile ecosystem and development sector to stimulate digital innovation to deliver sustainable business models with potential for large-scale socio-economic impact and climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience in low-income countries. low and medium. This is being achieved by unlocking mobile-enabled innovation that meets the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as improving people's access to and use of digital and mobile services. Through its work and that of its partners, M4D has impacted the lives of 220 million people since its creation in 2008.
The FCDO and GSMA's decade-long partnership has positioned them at the forefront of digital innovation for socio-economic and climate impact and is closely aligned with the FCDO's strategic priorities, including strengthening alignment with the private sector; encourage investments to stimulate economic growth; empower women and girls; address global challenges, including climate change and the environment; in addition to strengthening the basic principles of digital technology to make it “open, responsible, secure and resilient.” This new phase of the partnership will amplify M4D's current work and impact to accelerate the digital and green transition for all, while specifically supporting the contribution of emerging technology, with a focus on AI.
Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, said: “Mobile technology has the potential to revolutionize the lives of the poor by helping to address the effects of climate change, create jobs and boost opportunities for women.
“The Mobile for Development program has already benefited more than 100 million people, and the new UK announcement aims to increase ambition, reaching a further 110 million people, including 60 million women.
“Together, the developing worlds and mobile technology giants can be a powerful force to unlock opportunity and prosperity, and meet the UN Global Goals.”
Max Cuvellier, Director of Mobile for Development at the GSMA, said: “For more than a decade, our strategic partnership with the FCDO has enabled us to research, advocate, support and fund solutions that unlock the power of mobile technology for populations. unattended. across the globe. The renewal of this partnership is a tremendous opportunity to continue leveraging our respective strengths to accelerate the impact of transformative digital innovation and address local socioeconomic challenges and climate change. “We are very grateful for the intellectual leadership and long-standing collaboration of the FCDO.”
-END-
About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver critical innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA offers its members three broad pillars: connectivity for good, industry services and solutions, and outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, addressing today's biggest societal challenges, supporting the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
We invite you to learn more at gsma.com
Media contacts
GSMA Press Office
press [email protected]
