Ankara: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and ITU, the UN agency for digital technologies, are spearheading efforts to enhance connectivity for millions of forcibly displaced individuals and local communities in Chad and other refugee-hosting nations by 2030.
According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a two-day visit to Chad concluded with ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation President John Giusti, and UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner Kelly T. Clements witnessing firsthand the transformative impact of connectivity on vulnerable communities. Sudanese refugees and Chadians are leveraging digital tools to access education, financial services, and healthcare, fostering greater stability and self-reliance.
During their visit, the partners worked on strengthening the regulatory and infrastructure framework to extend the Connectivity for Refugees (CfR) initiative. Launched in 2023, the CfR initiative aims to mobilize resources for accessible and affordable connectivity in major refugee-hosting regions by 2030, evolving into a private-public partnership active in Chad, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mauritania, Egypt, and Rwanda. Each program is customized to address local needs, targeting communities most in need to expand connectivity.
"In Chad, we witnessed first-hand how connectivity can restore dignity and hope for displaced people and host communities," stated ITU's Bogdan-Martin. The initiative provides digital opportunities in areas where internet connection is vital. "Now more than ever, we must act and extend that lifeline so that no one is left behind," she added.
UNHCR's Clements emphasized the ambition to connect 20 million forcibly displaced people and their hosts by 2030. "Too many people view refugees as passive victims, but we saw in Chad their drive to connect, to learn and enhance their lives and future prospects," Clements said. She highlighted the shift in gears to deliver results that foster resilient, inclusive communities.
Chad hosts approximately 1.5 million refugees, primarily from Sudan. The government is committed to digital inclusion through its development plan, Tchad Connexion 2030, which incorporates refugee needs into the broader digital infrastructure. Local mobile operators Airtel Chad and Moov have upgraded infrastructure to connect the isolated east of the country. Emergency.LU, a public-private partnership funded by Luxembourg, is deploying high-performance satellite connectivity across several locations in Chad, with four connected centers being established in refugee settlements as learning hubs for Sudanese refugees and host communities.
UNHCR calls on partners across sectors to scale up efforts to meet the urgent needs of millions, including expanding infrastructure and removing regulatory barriers to individual access for displaced people. To achieve these goals, the Connectivity for Refugees initiative seeks at least $20 million in core support and $200 million in direct investment and contributions.
Driving global efforts to bridge the digital divide, ITU collaborates with telecom regulators and industry leaders to develop innovative digital solutions for underserved regions. Its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition has mobilized commitments from over 70 governments, companies, and organizations to unlock connectivity solutions for refugees. Additionally, its Disaster Connectivity Map provides critical data for crisis-stricken regions like Chad.
The GSMA, a founding member of the Connectivity for Refugees Initiative, acts as a bridge between mobile network operators and humanitarian organizations. GSMA's Giusti remarked that connectivity is often the first request when people cross a border seeking safety. This partnership with UNHCR and ITU enables GSMA to broker scalable and sustainable connectivity solutions for forcibly displaced individuals and host communities globally.
UNHCR is also enhancing its collaboration with development actors such as the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC), aiming to allocate portions of large-scale digital infrastructure projects to refugee-hosting areas.