[ACCI-CAVIE] Airtel Africa, the provider of telecommunications and mobile money services in Africa, and UNICEF have announced a new five-year Pan-African partnership to help accelerate the roll-out of digital learning through connecting schools to the internet and ensuring free access to learning platforms across 13 countries.

Airtel Africa is the first African private sector partner to make a multimillion-dollar commitment to ‘Reimagine Education’, a global initiative launched by UNICEF in 2020 calling for public and private sector investment in digital learning as an essential service for every child and young person across the globe.

Reimagine Education is a global initiative launched by UNICEF in 2020, calling for public and private sector investment in digital learning as an essential service for every child and young person across the globe.

The telecom company will commit $57 million to the partnership over five years up until 2027. The program will provide technology and expertise and direct financial support to connect schools and communities to the Internet, enabling free access to online educational content for learners.

The partnership will benefit learners in Chad, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

“Hundreds of millions of children in Africa have seen their education disrupted or put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “By championing digital education for children in Africa, this partnership with Airtel Africa will help put children’s learning back on track.”

“Digital learning is the gateway to equipping young people with the right skills – skills that will support them to transition from learning to earning. We are delighted that Airtel Nigeria shares in this vision, and is helping to drive the process of scaling up internet connectivity for school children in Nigeria,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigeria Representative.

By Shailaja Pai