P2C Flash Edition 05

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Welcome to P2C Flash!

Welcome to the fifth edition of P2C Flash! With over 1,000 pledges from 480+ entities across 149 countries, the Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition continues to grow, driving meaningful, inclusive digital change around the world. P2C Flash serves as a monthly edition focused exclusively on showcasing these contributions, including inspiring impact stories and new pledges, to foster a global community united by the mission of universal connectivity.
This edition showcases the crucial role of government, private sector, and civil society in bringing digital inclusion to life. We also take you to Guatemala City, where the P2C Matchmaking Accelerator took place on 14 May 2025, catalyzing new partnerships and presenting seven impactful pledges aligned with the country’s digital agenda.

Join us as we bring these efforts to the forefront, stay tuned and inspired!

Click here to learn more about how to get featured in our upcoming editions.
Click here to read the email version of this edition.

The Guatemala P2C Matchmaking Accelerator took place in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on 14 May 2025. Organized in partnership with the Government of Guatemala, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the event aimed to accelerate partnerships and solutions supporting the country’s digital agenda. This section highlights six pledges presented during the event.

Campus TEC Guatemala:
Support skill development, adoption, and value creation in the ICT sector in Guatemala and Latin America


Campus TEC Guatemala pledges to advance digital inclusion by continuing its 30-year mission to foster ICT skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship in rural Guatemala and across Latin America. Through its technology park and regional hubs, Campus TEC supports startup incubation, resource mobilization, and coordination with digital government efforts. It also provides technical assistance, organizes training and events, and monitors impact via its Technology Observatory.

This pledge targets rural communities, especially children, women, MSMEs, indigenous peoples, older persons, and displaced populations, helping bridge the digital divide and unlock inclusive economic opportunities through technology.
 
Contact:  Maria Zaghi, maria@zaghi.co

Social Hub SmartCity Guatemala:
Smart urban furniture for free internet and clean energy in underserved communities

Social Hub SmartCity Guatemala (Social Hub) pledges USD 1 million to boost digital inclusion by installing at least 50 smart stations across underserved areas in Guatemala by 2026. Each unit will offer Wi-Fi connectivity, solar charging ports, LED lighting, and access to basic digital services. This initiative combines technical expertise, private funding, local government partnerships, and community engagement to ensure long-term impact.

Progress will be tracked through station deployment, usage data, satisfaction surveys, and inclusion metrics for students, women, informal workers, and entrepreneurs. By bringing connectivity to everyday spaces, Social Hub aims to bridge the digital divide in a sustainable, community-driven way.

Contact: Francisco Velásquez, nattec.smartcity@gmail.com

Sustainable Finance Advisory Council of Guatemala (CCFS):
Promoting investment in ICT for MSMEs


The Sustainable Finance Advisory Council of Guatemala (CCFS), established in 2021, serves as a platform to promote sustainable finance principles across Guatemala’s financial and corporate sectors. Through coordination among banks, insurers, and businesses, CCFS drives the integration of sustainability in investment decision-making.

Leveraging its wide platform, CCFS pledges to promote investments and public-private partnerships to strengthen the capacities of MSMEs, particularly those advancing the inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous communities. This initiative ensures that digital inclusion becomes a core consideration in the portfolios of CCFS-affiliated banks, investors, and corporates, helping build an inclusive digital economy.

Wayfree:
Impacting Guatemala’s Digital Transformation


In Guatemala, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lack access to essential digital tools, limiting their ability to grow and compete in an increasingly digital global economy. To address this gap, the “Wayfree Expansion” project, worth USD 6.83 million, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank Lab, will extend free internet access to all 340 municipalities in Guatemala, targeting 5 million underserved individuals. This initiative aims to bridge the critical gaps in connectivity that hinder access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

This project will deploy 1,250 new Access Points in rural and urban areas, offering cost-free access through a sustainable freemium model supported by digital advertising and market research, while contributing to local economic development. In addition to connectivity, Wayfree will support creating digital applications in education and healthcare and establish an Innovation Lab to pilot scalable solutions for long-term impact.

Péndulo:
Bridging Educational Gaps Through the Innovative Schools Program


Péndulo has pledged USD 1 million to launch the Innovative Schools Program, an initiative to promote integrating technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in public education and accelerate digital inclusion across Guatemala. Targeting 15,000 students, teachers, and families, the program integrates critical digital skills, AI ethics, cybersecurity, and programming into curricula to harness technology safely and creatively.

The program emphasizes practical, hands-on training for students and educators while also fostering family engagement in the digital learning process. By tackling key barriers such as limited access and cybersecurity vulnerabilities, Péndulo seeks to bridge the digital divide and empower schools in underserved communities with tools for long-term, sustainable development.

Xetechs Group:
Boost 1000 SMEs automated with V-AI

Xetechs Group pledges USD 500,000 over five years to empower 1,000 SMEs in Latin America through V-AI, its omnichannel conversational agent platform. The pledge includes free 12-month licenses for 50 women- or youth-led businesses, guided onboarding for deploying AI sales and service agents on various platforms, and 100 scholarships through the “V-AI for SMEs” Academy.

Xetechs will also launch a skills marketplace with 10 open-source modules to support local developers. Xetechs aims to increase the competence of local SMEs and reduce support costs, helping close the automation gap in the region without requiring additional infrastructure.

The Impact Stories section shines a spotlight on the real-world transformations made possible through the P2C commitments. These stories bring to life the tangible benefits of connectivity, showcasing how innovative partnerships and bold initiatives are breaking barriers and empowering communities globally. Featuring pledges that have submitted progress reports, this section highlights measurable impact and accountability, demonstrating how shared efforts translate into lasting change. From improving access to education to connecting marginalized communities, these narratives reveal the human impact behind the numbers, reminding us of the collective potential to create a digitally inclusive future for everyone everywhere.

Child Online Africa:
Advancing Child Online Protection and Digital Skills in Africa


Child Online Africa (COA) is committed to supporting the development of country-level Child Online Protection frameworks across Africa and advocating for policies that safeguard children’s digital rights, ensuring their voices are heard and their interests protected at all levels of governance. Through initiatives such as the Africa Digital Leaders Fellowship, COA also seeks to equip children with the competencies needed to thrive in the digital world.

COA is making progress in delivering the pledge. It’s advocacy efforts contributed to the adoption of the African Union Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy which was launched in February 2024, marking a key milestone. Policy developments have also been observed in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, and Chad. COA continues to advocate for the inclusion of children—not just youth—as stakeholders in global digital policy processes, including WSIS+20.

COA has also developed publicly accessible toolkits aimed at children, educators, and caregivers. These efforts are helping build a generation of responsible digital citizens, reducing online threats and strengthening cybersecurity resilience across the continent. To further support children’s safe online experience, COA welcomes new partnerships and is actively seeking to establish contact with organizations and entities that share its mission.

NRD Companies:
Feasibility Study for Provision of Digital Services via the Postal System of Kenya

NRD Companies, co-financed by the Fund for the Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid of the Government of Lithuania, pledges to support inclusive digital transformation by leveraging Kenya’s postal network to deliver digital government services. Backed by USD 100,000 in funding, the project’s mission is to improve public service access for underserved rural populations of Kenya, where internet connectivity and digital literacy remain limited. This initiative aligns with P2C’s mission to enhance digital access, adoption, and skills, and showcases the power of cross-sector collaboration for sustainable development.

From September 2023 to June 2024, NRD Companies, in partnership with the Postal Corporation of Kenya, led a feasibility study to explore the postal system’s potential as a digital services delivery network. This included analyzing best practices, developing a Kenya-specific model, and conducting strategic, regulatory, and financial assessments. The findings confirmed that the approach is more cost-effective and inclusive than existing alternatives.

Looking ahead, NRD Companies remains committed to supporting a small-scale pilot in Kenya by providing technical assistance and advisory services. In this next phase,  depending on the availability of funding from development partners, the Postal Corporation of Kenya aims to roll out 3–6 digital government services through 1–2 rural post offices. This pilot will lay the groundwork for scaling inclusive public service delivery nationwide, fostering a data-driven, transparent, and efficient digital government.

Digital Impact Alliance:

Joint Learning Network to Unlock Data for Climate Action  

To address the threats of climate change, the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) has launched the Joint Learning Network to unlock climate-relevant data. Aligned with SDG 13 (Climate Action), this initiative addresses the urgent need for accessible, trusted climate action data to combat rising threats like extreme weather, agricultural disruptions, and sea-level rise.

Since its inception at COP28 in 2023, DIAL has convened global experts to advance innovative data-sharing models, including open data, data trusts, open transaction networks, and data spaces to empower governments, scientists, and communities to design targeted climate solutions. Its flagship report, Beyond the Tipping Point: How Climate Data Can Decide Our Future, was grounded in discussions with frontline municipalities and focused on data relevant to the challenges faced by these communities – from water scarcity to coastal erosion, from extreme weather to emissions tracking, through a series of roundtable discussions and an in-depth analysis of key use cases and examples. Its research findings and recommendations were shared at COP29 in 2024. DIAL has also partnered with ITU’s Green Digital Action initiative to align efforts with global sustainability frameworks.


Learn more about this transformative effort: Joint Learning Network Project Page. Reach out to them at info@digitalimpactalliance.org to learn more or get involved.

Welcoming New Pledges

The Welcoming New Pledges section introduces the latest commitments made by partners to advance sustainable digital transformation through the P2C Digital Coalition. This section highlights fresh pledges from a diverse range of stakeholders who are dedicated to bridging the digital divide and promoting universal, meaningful connectivity. Each new pledge brings us a step closer to a more inclusive and digitally connected world.

Internet Society:
Train and empower 15,000 people to sustainably build and provide meaningful access to unconnected and underserved


The Internet Society pledges to invest USD 2 million to train and empower 15,000 individuals to sustainably build and expand meaningful Internet access in unconnected and underserved communities.

By equipping local communities with the knowledge, tools, and resources to develop and maintain Internet infrastructure, this pledge aims to bridge the digital divide from the ground up – fostering inclusion, resilience, and long-term connectivity where it’s needed most.

ECPAT International:
Improve access and adoption to a safe and trustworthy digital environment for children and youth


As the leading global network of civil society organizations working to end the sexual exploitation of children, ECPAT reaffirms its commitment to the Partner2Connect focus areas, particularly Access and Adoption. ECPAT emphasizes that digital inclusion must be safe, equitable, and rights-based from the outset.

In 2025, ECPAT pledges to commit USD 1 million to strengthen child protection in the digital world by: Advancing comprehensive research on technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse, building on insights from the Disrupting Harm project to inform policy and intervention strategies; promoting robust legal frameworks in collaboration with international bodies, governments, and civil society to align with international standards; developing and delivering targeted training programs for law enforcement, educators, and child protection professionals to improve prevention, detection and response capacities; engaging with technology companies, internet service providers, and the travel and tourism industry to implement child protection measures; empowering children and youth to actively shape safe digital spaces through participation and peer-led online safety initiatives.

ECPAT believes that meaningful connectivity must not only bridge the digital divide but also embed safety and trust for every child online.

P2C In The World

This section highlights the global impact of the P2C Digital Coalition, showcasing pledges and connectivity initiatives from ITU Member States across six regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Europe, to advance digital inclusion. Together, these commitments underscore the Coalition’s role in bridging the digital divide through partnerships and collaborative action.

National Communications Authority (NCA) of South Sudan:
South Sudan Rural Connectivity Program


South Sudan is making decisive strides to expand digital access in one of the world’s least connected countries. With mobile penetration below 30% and internet access at just 8%, rural areas—home to most of the population—remain largely offline due to limited infrastructure.

To address this, the Government of South Sudan, in collaboration with local mobile network operators (MNOs) launched a national rural connectivity program aimed at deploying over 200 network sites to connect 5 million people. Backed by a USD 60 million national pledge, the program is led by the National Communication Authority (NCA) under the Ministry of ICT and Postal Services and funded through the Universal Service Access Fund (USAF).

The government is financing civil works and tower construction, while MNOs provide radio equipment and manage operations. So far, 65 sites have been activated, expanding mobile coverage to nearly 1.5 million people.

This initiative is already boosting mobile money adoption nationwide. In parallel, the NCA is driving digital inclusion through community awareness campaigns and youth digital skills training, with over 450 young women trained across six cohorts.

South Sudan welcomes global partners, donors, and technology stakeholders to join in scaling this transformative initiative which seeks to bridge a critical digital gap and empower millions with new opportunities.

National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
Erect an additional GMDSS transmission site to expand the coverage of the national maritime emergency communications network

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has pledged USD 230,000 to erect an additional Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) transmission site, enhancing emergency communication coverage across all 32 islands of the archipelago. Currently, the maritime emergency network covers the northern two-thirds of the archipelago; the new site will extend coverage to all the southern islands, improving safety for fisherfolk, yachts, cruise ships, and all other vessels.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, located in the eastern Caribbean with a population of 110,000, relies on its national maritime emergency communications network to meet the requirements of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention of 1974. The project complements the existing GMDSS system and traditional maritime VHF communication channels, creating a safer and more reliable communication system throughout its waters.


The installation of data connectivity from the Coast Guard base at Calliaqua to Union Island, along with VHS radios/equipment, UPS, and racks, was completed on April 1, 2024. However, the equipment at the Union Island site was damaged due to the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1, 2024. The service provider is currently working to repair the damaged infrastructure to restore full service.

We celebrate the incredible strides made through collective action and shared commitments to bridging the digital divide. The stories, partnerships, and innovations highlighted here are just the beginning of what we can achieve together. Stay tuned for our next issue, where we will delve even deeper into the transformative power of connectivity, featuring more inspiring initiatives, voices from the field, and bold new commitments driving progress across the globe. The journey to a digitally inclusive world continues – and we’re just getting started!

Click here to learn more about how to get featured in our upcoming editions.

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