The Challenge
The internet is a pervasive, fundamental part of daily life that continues to deliver massive economic and social benefits around the world. Yet some 3.9 billion people – more than 52% of the world’s population – are still not online.
Although much progress has been made in closing the digital divide, the challenge remains huge, complex and multidimensional. It requires a collaborative, multistakeholder approach to overcome four key barriers to internet inclusion: infrastructure; affordability; skills, awareness and cultural acceptance; and relevant content.
Importantly, the internet is also the fundamental enabler of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The industries enabled by the Fourth Industrial Revolution are likely to reshape the global economy, creating immense opportunities for those able to develop them.
The Internet for All Initiative
Internet for All establishes and facilitates physical and digital platforms at the global, regional and national level, that will create millions of new internet users, with a focus on the hardest to reach. It brings together stakeholders from the public and private sectors, non-profits, academia, international organizations, donors and civil society to create multistakeholder partnerships.
Accomplishments to Date
Since its launch, the Internet for All project made significant strides in establishing country-level platforms and global working groups, and achieving on-the-ground results.
- Launched four operational country programmes in Rwanda, South Africa, Argentina and Jordan.
- Attracted significant financial and human resources to support these country-level efforts.
- Refined the country model and made arrangements for it to scale.
- Launched impactful country level projects that are already bringing people online, such as Rwanda's Digital Ambassadors Program and the South Africa Imbizo Campaign
- Developed a model for applying blended finance to connectivity investments
