P2C Flash Edition 04
Welcome to P2C Flash!
Welcome to the fourth edition of P2C Flash, designed to amplify the voices of pledgers and spotlight their impactful commitments to advancing global connectivity and digital transformation. With over 1000 pledges from over 480 entities across 149 countries, the Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition continues to drive meaningful change in the digital landscape. P2C Flash serves as a monthly edition focused exclusively on showcasing these contributions, from inspiring impact stories, through government initiatives, P2C Champions, local innovative actions, to new pledges, to foster a global community united by the mission of universal connectivity. Join us as we bring these efforts to the forefront, showcasing the diverse initiatives that are shaping the future of sustainable digital transformation worldwide.
Click here to learn more about how to get featured in our upcoming editions.
Pledge Highlights
The Pledge Highlights section shines a spotlight on specific pledges made by pledge makers that align with key international days celebrated each month. These pledges reflect the ongoing efforts of the P2C Digital Coalition to advance digital inclusion and connectivity, particularly in alignment with global observances that raise awareness of crucial issues. This month, as we observe Africa Day on 25 May, we highlight pledges that support digital transformation across the African continent. By showcasing these pledges, we demonstrate how the collective action of P2C partners is contributing to global goals and driving impactful change around the world.
Africa Technology Innovation Hubs Institute (AfriLabs):
Powering Africa’s innovators
In 2022, AfriLabs pledged to invest USD 10 million to empower entrepreneurs across 53 African countries with the skills, funding, and networks needed to thrive. By strengthening digital ecosystem building, capacity development, policy advocacy, and knowledge sharing, AfriLabs supports startups, MSMEs, and innovation hubs continent-wide.
Since then, AfriLabs, together with its vibrant community, has secured over USD 7 million and launched several impactful initiatives. These include the AfriLabs Connect Platform, Africa’s largest digital innovation ecosystem platform and the Moonshot Initiative, which envisions a USD 1 trillion African digital economy powered by innovation, collaboration, and strategic investments tackling the continent’s key challenges.
These collective efforts contribute to bridging the gender gap in entrepreneurship, enhancing MSMEs’ connectivity, and boosting inclusive economic growth. Other flagship programs include the AfriLabs Capacity Building Programme, YouthADAPT Challenge, and Intel Train-the-Trainer, specifically targeting youth and hub leaders aged 18–35.
To scale this impact, AfriLabs is seeking multi-stakeholder partnerships with donor institutions, development agencies, corporates, and family offices to co-create solutions that drive capacity building, policy reform, and funding for Africa’s next generation of innovators.
National Institute of Innovation and Advanced Technology of Morocco:
islah.city project
The National Institute of Innovation and Advanced Technology of Morocco pledges to enhance digital inclusion and civic participation in Casablanca through the islah.city project. This innovative platform—available via website and mobile app—enables citizens to report urban issues such as potholes, broken streetlights, or waste management problems directly to local authorities. Providing real-time tracking and updates, the platform enhances transparency, public service efficiency, and community engagement.
Since its launch, the islah.city Casablanca platform has integrated AI to boost service delivery and data quality. In just three months of operation, the platform has processed over 1,000 reports covering all 16 districts of the city, with a resolution rate of 37%. Strategic partnerships with municipal bodies and educational institutions are helping expand digital infrastructure (notably broadband services) and capacity-building programs in underserved areas. To engage communities, the initiative has conducted 15 training sessions reaching over 500 citizens, as well as focus groups, public consultations, and digital campaigns, ensuring inclusive feedback and participation.
Drawing inspiration from successful international models like FixMyStreet (UK) and SeeClickFix (USA), islah.city adapts these concepts to Moroccan realities with a multilingual interface (Arabic, French, English, and Amazigh) and special attention to areas with low connectivity. The Institute continues to strengthen these programs and partnerships to ensure that all citizens, especially those in low-income areas, benefit from Morocco’s digital transformation, to reach 5 million users by 2027.
Digital Opportunity Trust:
Empowering 1 million young people in Africa and the Middle East with digital literacy and 21st-century skills to build digital ecosystems.
Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) invests in the potential of young people—especially young women—to lead transformational change in their communities. DOT is a youth-powered network that equips emerging leaders with digital and critical future-proofed skills. Through locally rooted, peer-to-peer approaches, DOT’s Youth-led model unlocks opportunities for personal growth, innovation and inclusive, community-led impact.
Pledging to build digital ecosystems that support 1 million people in marginalized communities across Africa and the Middle East, DOT works closely with 18 youth advisors to co-design programs that meet local needs— incorporating local languages, cultures, and contexts to shape a more inclusive future.
Over the past five years, DOT’s initiatives in Jordan, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ghana, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire, and beyond have reached over 511,000 people, providing Digital Skills at Scale, Digital Entrepreneurship, 21st-Century, Personal Empowerment and Leadership Skills, with women representing up to 70% of participants.
Today, 9,000 youth are leading their peers, not as instructors, but as equals, actively creating opportunities in their communities. Over 1,500 youth-led partners— including host organizations, grassroots youth-led and youth-serving organizations, and women’s rights organizations— in marginalized communities have worked with DOT to shape youth-led futures, catalyze climate action, and scale gender-responsive programming.
Pledges Related to Activities within the ITU
This section features pledges made by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) or those aligned with its initiatives. As a UN specialized agency, ITU drives global connectivity, sets ICT standards, and works to bridge the digital divide. As ITU celebrates 160 years of connecting the world, these pledges demonstrate ITU’s enduring commitment to inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age:
Leverage partnerships to bridge the gender digital divide in skills and leadership
The EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age pledges USD 2 million to bridge the gender digital divide through transformative skills and leadership training. By 2026, its Her Digital Skills initiative aims to equip 1 million women and girls with free foundational IT skills training and e-mentoring. To date, the Her Digital Skills initiative has already reached around 300,000 participants across 50 countries. It features hands-on digital skills workshops, a growing e-mentoring network, and the soon-to-launch “EQUALS Badges”— a self-paced training and certification programme.
EQUALS is also on track to realize its goal to empower 10,000 women leaders and entrepreneurs in tech through its Ambassadors Programme, which enhances visibility, business and digital skills, mentoring, and networking. Regular stakeholder consultations and on-the-ground feedback ensure continued relevance and impact. With 9 major partnerships including ITU, GSMA, EY, W4, Qualcomm, and Verizon, EQUALS is building a holistic, cross-sectoral ecosystem for gender-inclusive digital development—ensuring no girl or woman is left behind in the digital future.
Impact Stories
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.
Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) of Romania: Digital education
Aligning with the values of the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, MEDAT Romania pledges to strengthen digital education and ensure inclusive access to technology and skills, particularly for women, girls, and underserved communities.
Through its National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Romania is equipping over 5,800 schools with digital devices, smart classrooms, and modern teaching materials. A total of 2,529 municipalities and county councils are implementing projects to provide digital equipment for all schools under their jurisdiction. In parallel, Romania is building 56 Green Schools, integrating climate education with digital transformation.
To date, €1 billion has been invested in digital and infrastructure upgrades in schools. A €94 million project has been approved to expand ultra-high-speed internet—minimum 100 Mbps—with upgrade potential, in at least 945 underserved localities.
Through the implementation of this pledge, Romania aims to ensure that by 2025, at least 60% of youth and adults attain minimum proficiency in sustainable digital skills. By partnering with schools, training centers, and NGOs, Romania is committed to creating an inclusive digital future and ensuring that marginalized populations are not left behind.
Universal Service Fund (USF) of Pakistan
The Universal Service Fund (USF), an initiative of Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, pledged to enhance digital inclusion by connecting 2.2 million people in 1,500 un(der)served villages through its Next Generation Wireless Broadband Access Program for Sustainable Development (NG-BSD).
The program aims to expand affordable broadband and voice services to remote regions in Southern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Interior Sindh, empowering communities with access to e-education, e-health, e-commerce, and more.
USF successfully completed this pledge by June 2023, and USF deployed infrastructure to connect more regions. Since the pledge, USF has connected 3,072 villages, demonstrating its strong commitment towards connectivity.
By embracing deep fiberization and emerging technologies, USF continues to drive digital transformation and enhance e-governance in Pakistan’s hardest-to-connect and marginal communities, contributing to a more inclusive, connected, and sustainable future.
Government of Campeche of Mexico:
Connectivity for All (Conectividad para Todos)
The “Connectivity for All” project seeks to ensure that the entire population of Campeche benefits from the digital economy.
By the end of 2024, two internet services covering 300 localities had been implemented, benefiting 92% of Campeche’s population through a Fiber Optic Backbone Network in the main urban centers and a Remote Connection System in rural areas. This initiative guaranteed equitable internet access for all students, regardless of their location or social status, and enabled mobile units to serve remote areas, providing online access to government services and programs.
The project has significantly reduced telecommunications service costs and environmental impact by decreasing the need for travel through digital public administration. It has enhanced educational resources, improved digital literacy, and digitized government services, thus reducing the digital divide in the region and promoting a more informed and just society.
Layertech Software Labs:
CloudCT for citizen participation in local governance
Layertech Software Labs pledged at WSIS 2024 to invest USD 80,000 in its flagship initiative, the CloudCT project, which aims to promote citizen participation and inclusive policy and decision-making in local governments through the collection and analysis of citizen feedback data in digital platforms. The project is designed and implemented with partners, including the National University of the Philippines.
Starting with one local government partner (Pilot: Legazpi City), the CloudCT scaled in 2021, informing the policy and programming of five local governments and two national government agencies, including a law enforcement agency. The team has published papers and observations about how data-centric and citizen-centric policymaking are more responsive to citizen needs, and how citizens are more involved and participatory in the process.
Layertech Software Labs has invested an additional USD 15,000, bringing the total estimated investment to USD 95,000 by 2025. Through CloudCT, Layertech continued to demonstrate how digital innovation can help build a more accountable, participatory governance system.
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.
East African Community: EAC Regional AI Alliance
The Federal German Government and East African Community (EAC) pledge to invest EUR 5 million (approximately USD 5.75 million) to advance AI skills, research, and policy harmonization across the eight partner states in East Africa. This initiative aligns with and supports ITU’s goal of fostering inclusive, sustainable, and equitable digital transformation in emerging economies.
By 2028, the alliance aims to equip 50,000 individuals with AI skills, strengthening the regional AI talent pipeline. It will also establish 16 AI research collaborations, with a focus on structurally weaker economies and women-led initiatives. In addition, EAC plans to adapt AI curricula in 8 universities and develop 18 industry-driven teaching formats, ensuring practical, inclusive AI education. EAC is committed to support the development of a harmonized EAC AI policy, co-creating 20 policy recommendations and training 110 policymakers in ethical and gender-responsive AI governance.
Through the interconnected efforts—developing talent, fostering research, strengthening education, and shaping policy—the EAC is shaping a future where technology empowers people, drives innovation, and bridges digital divides across the region.
Beamlink: Deploying Cellular Networks at 1% of the cost to Connect the Unconnected
Beamlink is committed to closing the digital divide and connecting the 3.5 billion people still without stable Internet. In the next 5 years, Beamlink has pledged USD 40 million to connect 85 million people across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific by delivering affordable, rapidly deployable cellular connectivity to underserved communities worldwide.
Beamlink’s flagship solution, the Bentocell, enables the establishment of fully operational mobile networks at just 1% of the cost of traditional infrastructure by all but eliminating the outdated complexity and high-power requirements of typical cell sites. This innovation is crucial to empower network operators of all sizes to extend their footprint not only to remote and rural regions but also to disaster-affected areas, where reliable communication is literally life-saving.
To realize this pledge, Beamlink will deploy Bentocells, dedicate technical expertise, and build collaborative partnerships with mobile network operators, system integrators, regulators, and local communities to empower healthcare, education, and public safety, and ultimately bridge the global connectivity gap.
Matchmaking Opportunities
This section features P2C pledges that extend opportunities for collaboration, partnership, or support in various forms. It aims to inform stakeholders of available services, initiatives, or resources, such as open courses, shared expertise, or joint project opportunities, that align with the broader goals of digital inclusion and meaningful connectivity. We encourage interested parties to engage directly with the respective pledge-makers or contact the Partner2Connect team to explore potential collaboration.
Rebaca Technologies: Digital skills on 5G enabling digital transformation
Rebaca Technologies presents a specialized 5G Learning Initiative designed to empower regulators, academic institutions, and industry professionals with the critical skills and practical insights needed to thrive in the 5G era. This initiative includes access to ABotEdu, an advanced virtual 5G Lab platform that provides hands-on learning experiences, along with a series of interactive virtual workshops and expert-led consultation sessions. The program is strategically crafted to support national and organizational goals around 5G readiness, foster innovation, and accelerate digital transformation across key sectors.
Rebaca helps to equip countries’ regulators, academia, and industry professionals with critical 5G skills. Contact marketing@rebaca.com to get connected and for more information.
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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