Part 1
Executive summary
In 2023, UNICEF’s Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) continued to play a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s mission to protect, support and secure a better future for children around the world. Against a complex global landscape increasingly impacted by armed conflicts, climate change, economic shocks and other challenges, ICTD reinforced its commitment to bridging the digital divide, fostering digital innovation and enhancing learning opportunities for children and young people.
The work of UNICEF, including ICTD, proved crucial in regions beset by humanitarian crises. In the State of Palestine, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen, and West and Central Africa, conflicts and natural disasters disproportionately affected children, necessitating urgent and sustained interventions. In just two such examples, a devastating earthquake in Morocco in September 2023 and severe flooding in Libya highlighted the need for resilient digital infrastructure to support emergency response and ongoing programmes.
Recognizing the growing impact of climate change, ICTD increased its focus on digital solutions to mitigate risks and enhance resilience. Nearly half of all children live in countries highly vulnerable to climate change, underscoring the urgency of developing robust digital infrastructures. In regions such as West and Central Africa, unreliable electricity and inadequate ICT infrastructure exacerbated the digital divide, further isolating vulnerable communities. At the same time, advances in digital technology and innovative approaches in areas like digital payments and mobile money showed promise in addressing these challenges.
ICTD continued to work to bridge the digital divide in multiple regions. In South Asia, the high cost of broadband internet and smartphones limited access for many children, with only 12 per cent of school-aged children having internet access at home. In response, UNICEF prioritized digital inclusion, ensuring every child could benefit from digital tools. Elsewhere, initiatives like the partnership with Airtel Africa, which connected over 1,066 schools and 1.7 million children in Eastern and Southern Africa to digital learning platforms, exemplified this commitment.
Artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as a significant focus in 2023. UNICEF recognized AI as a potentially powerful tool to advance child rights globally and worked to align its efforts with the United Nations’ Global Digital Compact to harness the potential and mitigate the risks of AI. This also highlighted the need to equip all UNICEF stakeholders with the skills necessary to navigate and leverage digital tools effectively and safely, while ICTD’s ongoing push for digital transformation underscored the need for a comprehensive, ecosystem-wide approach to enhance digital dexterity among UNICEF staff, partners and beneficiaries.
The year 2023 marked the midpoint of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022–2025, with ICTD contributing significantly to progress in data analytics, digital education, e-health platforms and remote collaboration. The integration of digital technologies into operations and programming was critical in fulfilling UNICEF’s mandate for children, evidenced by the growing number of requests incorporating digital components.
Looking ahead, UNICEF ICTD is poised to continue its work in supporting vulnerable children through innovative digital solutions. Bridging the digital divide will remain a priority to ensure equitable access to the benefits of digital technology. Collaboration and co-creation will be essential, and ICTD will work with governments, donors, private sector partners and local actors to drive cross-sectoral initiatives. Embracing evidence-based decision-making and advancing ethical AI applications will be key to delivering more effective programmes and improving outcomes for children.
UNICEF ICTD’s commitment to digital innovation has already supported numerous successful projects. The focus for 2024 and beyond will be on scaling and sustaining these initiatives while exploring new digital frontiers. By addressing digital disparities and leveraging the potential of digital innovations and technologies, UNICEF ICTD aims to create a more inclusive and resilient future for all children.
