World leaders meet in Switzerland to bridge digital divide in schools by 2030

The inaugural Giga Connectivity Forum is taking place at the ITU headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, bringing together high-level representatives from Ministries of Education, ICT, and Communications Regulatory Authorities to network and share best practices for achieving universal school connectivity by 2030. Speaking from Geneva, Switzerland, Ministry of Education Arts and Culture Executive Director Sanet Steenkamp stressed that the event’s goal is not only to boost regional collaboration but also to accelerate the global impact of GIGA.

With 60 percent of future jobs in the digital field, the International Finance Corporation, an international financial institution that offers investment, advisory, and asset-management services to encourage private-sector development in less developed countries representative, Isabel Neto told attendees at the Giga Connectivity Forum about the Global Challenge Program on Digitalisation, a major effort to accelerate connectivity through public and private partnerships.

Another spotlight session during the forum provided insights on how to estimate school connectivity costs, identify potential funding sources, and co-create proposals for Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and International Financial Institutions (IFIs).