The EDISON Alliance has revealed that over the past twelve months, its global partnership has had a positive impact on the lives of nearly 800 million people worldwide, using public digital infrastructure.
The Alliance is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together leaders from the private sector, governments, academic institutions, and social organizations. It was established in January 2021 at the World Economic Forum (WEF) to help bridge the global digital divide and facilitate access for millions of people to essential social services through digital technologies.
Details of the efforts that contributed to digital inclusion through 320 projects and initiatives in 127 countries are outlined in a 32-page document titled “EDISON Alliance Impact Report 2024.” The report was published as four African countries – Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, and Nigeria – joined other countries in the EDISON Alliance, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Honduras, Rwanda, Togo, and the United Arab Emirates, to strengthen their commitment to digital inclusion. Its release coincides with the ongoing World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, Switzerland.
In a statement about the report, WEF declared it as an important step towards achieving the Alliance’s goal of impacting and improving the lives of one billion people through “affordable and accessible digital solutions in healthcare, education, and financial services” by 2025. This initiative by the EDISON Alliance is called the “One Billion Lives Challenge.”
The majority of the 784 million people who benefited from the initiative last year reside in South Asia (78 percent) and Africa (14 percent). This represents a 73 percent increase compared to the data from January 23, when the number stood at 454 million beneficiaries.
“It doesn’t matter where you were born or where you live, everyone should have access to the digital services necessary for full participation in the 21st-century society,” said Hans Vestberg, Founder and Chairman of the EDISON Alliance, and Chairman and CEO of Verizon. “Helping everyone access our shared future is my life’s mission, and it’s what we work on every day at Verizon.”
The report reveals that a total of 94 million individuals had access to educational services, while 463 million had access to financial services. These figures indicate significant progress in addressing the lack of education access for children and financial exclusion for millions of unbanked individuals in developing countries.
The report also includes testimonials from partners regarding the digital inclusion projects being implemented, highlighting the significant impact they have had on a national level in countries such as Rwanda and Bangladesh, where projects aimed at increasing financial inclusion and digitally tailored education specific to each country’s needs were carried out.
The EDISON Alliance Impact Report is an annual publication that describes the achievements and progress made by the coalition in its efforts to improve people’s lives worldwide through transformative digital technologies. The report also identifies the challenges that still hinder these efforts and seeks ways to overcome them while maintaining the momentum of bridging the digital divide as a pathway to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Frequently Asked Questions about the EDISON Alliance Report
1. What is the EDISON Alliance?
The EDISON Alliance is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together leaders from the private sector, governments, academic institutions, and social organizations. It was established to bridge the global digital divide and facilitate access for millions of people to essential social services through digital technologies.
2. What actions has the EDISON Alliance taken to increase digital inclusion?
The EDISON Alliance report lists 320 projects and initiatives carried out in 127 countries that have contributed to increasing digital inclusion. These actions cover various areas such as healthcare, education, and financial services.
3. Which countries have joined the EDISON Alliance?
Four African countries – Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, and Nigeria – have joined the EDISON Alliance, along with other countries such as Bahrain, Bangladesh, Honduras, Rwanda, Togo, and the United Arab Emirates.
4. What is the EDISON Alliance’s goal for 2025?
The EDISON Alliance aims to impact and improve the lives of one billion people through affordable and accessible digital solutions in healthcare, education, and financial services by 2025.
5. Which regions of the world benefited the most from the EDISON Alliance initiatives last year?
The majority, 78 percent, of the 784 million beneficiaries of the EDISON Alliance initiatives last year resided in South Asia. Additionally, 14 percent were from Africa.
6. What are the main achievements of the EDISON Alliance?
The EDISON Alliance report states that 94 million individuals had access to educational services, while 463 million had access to financial services. This represents significant progress in addressing the lack of education access and financial exclusion in developing countries.
7. What is the EDISON Alliance report?
The EDISON Alliance report is an annual publication that describes the achievements and progress made by the coalition in their efforts to improve people’s lives worldwide through digital technologies. The report also identifies the challenges they face and looks for ways to overcome them.
Additional information about the EDISON Alliance can be found on the official EDISON Alliance website.
The source of the article is from the blog radardovalemg.com