Giga :Connecting Every School to the Internet

Context and Issue

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis, posing a severe threat to the well-being of children and their families, particularly those already grappling with poverty, disability, or social exclusion. The global school closures and health crises have exacerbated the challenges faced by lower-income countries, where limited or non-existent infrastructure hinders access to distance learning and essential services. This dire situation has significantly impacted education, economic stability, and future opportunities, underscoring the urgency of accelerating connectivity, online learning, and other initiatives for children and their communities while driving economic stimulus.

Solution

Recognizing the critical need for connectivity and access to information, UNICEF and ITU launched the Giga initiative in September 2019. This initiative aims to connect every school to the Internet and give every young person access to information, opportunities, and choices. Giga supports the response efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic while exploring how connectivity can create stronger infrastructures of hope and opportunity in the post-COVID era.

Impact

The Giga initiative has the potential to make a transformative impact on the lives of children and communities globally. Giga facilitates access to distance learning resources by connecting schools to the internet, enabling continued education even in the face of school closures or other disruptions. Moreover, providing young people with access to information and opportunities empowers them to explore new avenues for growth and development, fostering a sense of hope and resilience during challenging times. Giga has helped the Government of Kyrgyzstan generate $200k yearly savings (40% of its education connectivity budget). By seeing all the schools and their corresponding connectivity on a map, the Government was able to renegotiate contracts and subsequently reduce prices by almost half (from $50/month to $28.5/month) and to almost double speeds (from 2Mbps to 4Mbps).

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of connectivity and access to information in ensuring the continuity of education and supporting the well-being of children and their communities. The Giga initiative, launched by UNICEF and ITU, represents a proactive effort to address this need by connecting schools and young people to the vast resources and opportunities available through the Internet. By fostering connectivity and enabling access to online learning, this initiative supports the immediate response to the pandemic. It lays the foundation for a more resilient and equitable future where every child can learn, grow, and thrive, regardless of their circumstances. However, there are obstacles related to the existing level of digital infrastructures and governance systems that may reduce the effectiveness of the interventions in different contexts.