digitization

Private sector partnership key to funding digital access for all

Private sector partnership key to funding digital access for all

To connect the next two billion people to the internet, funding is crucial – and not the small type. To accomplish these kinds of enterprise projects, the UN requires a massive financial war chest.

"Access is a fundamental right" - Digital activist Vilas Dhar

Crisis Recovery

"Access is a fundamental right" - Digital activist Vilas Dhar

Over 2 billion people still lack basic connectivity access, thus creating a massive digital divide. Activist Vilas Dhar breaks down the three elements that contribute to this divide.

Divergent cyberattack responses: Estonia & India

Divergent cyberattack responses: Estonia & India

During a recent GZERO livestream event presented by Visa, Priya Vora, CEO of Digital Impact Alliance, shed light on a critical aspect of digitization that often goes beyond the realm of cybersecurity: trust-building between governments and citizens. Priya recounted an intriguing comparison between Estonia and India in 2018, both of which experienced reported attacks on major government databases—the X-Road system in Estonia and the Aadhaar identity system in India.

2 billion new internet users joined in 5 years but growth is uneven

2 billion new internet users joined in 5 years but growth is uneven

A whopping two billion new internet users have come online in the past five years. This transformative shift, driven in part by the pandemic, has revolutionized the way people learn and work. But it’s important to note that this growth is not evenly distributed, and significant efforts are required, particularly in Africa, to bridge the digital divide, says Digital Impact Alliance CEO Priya Vora.

Estonia's digital revolution: a global model of efficiency

Estonia's digital revolution: a global model of efficiency

Carmen Raal, a digital transformation advisor and expert from e-Estonia, shared some remarkable insights into the nation's digital transformation. Estonia, often hailed as a digital pioneer, has undergone a profound digitalization process that sets it apart on the global stage. Carmen explained that 99.99% of Estonia’s public services are accessible online, which includes a strong collaboration between the nations’ public and private sectors.

Digital natives: Redefining youth digital literacy

Digital natives: Redefining youth digital literacy

Contrary to the common notion that today's young people are inherently digital-savvy due to their exposure to technology, chief innovation officer of USAID, Mohamed Abdel-Kader says that simply knowing how to navigate social media or use a smartphone does not equate to digital literacy. In a recent GZERO livestream presented by Visa, Abdel-Kader expressed how young people are not innately able to understand the broader implications of their digital actions, including being aware of the consequences of their online posts, critically evaluating information discovered, and navigating a digital world of “fake news.”

Ukraine’s digital lifeline: Diia

Ukraine’s digital lifeline: Diia

USAID's chief innovation officer Mohamed Abdel-Kader sheds light on Ukraine's groundbreaking eServices platform known as Diia. This platform, he emphasized, has significantly strengthened the connection between the government and its citizens—a vital development for Ukraine, particularly amid the ongoing brutal war with Russia.

What Ukraine's digital revolution teaches the world

What Ukraine's digital revolution teaches the world

The threat of the Russian bear has been putting its neighbors on edge for years, and while plenty has been spent on beefing up their militaries, there’s now a whole other line of defense: digitization. Kyiv has harnessed its digital technology to provide government services to a whopping 19 million Ukrainians, despite daily bombings and devastation.