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Nigeria and other developing nations are poised to receive support from the UK government’s £37.3 million backing for the Mobile for Development Program.
The funding, announced by United Kingdom’s Development Minister Andrew Mitchell at the 2024 Mobile World Congress, aims to enable more people to access mobile and digital technologies, creating new opportunities and enhancing livelihoods.
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The program, a collaborative effort with the United Kingdom-based mobile industry association GSMA and the private sector, has already positively impacted over 100 million individuals.
It prioritizes women and girls, climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience, and the scaling up of innovative solutions.
Andrew Mitchell emphasized that entrepreneurs would receive new support to develop innovative mobile technology addressing global development challenges.
The goal is to reach an additional 110 million people, including 60 million women, building on the Mobile for Development program’s past success in transforming lives.
UK funding has played a pivotal role in initiatives like scaling up Pakistan’s digital hub, BaKhabar Kissan (BKK), providing accurate weather forecasting data to farmers. In Nigeria, the program leverages AI technology to offer real-time agricultural advice to farmers and supply pay-as-you-go solar-powered fridges.
The President of GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, John Giusti, highlighted the longstanding partnership with the UK, emphasizing its impact on over 127 million lives through digital innovation.
The renewed partnership aims to further amplify their joint impact, leveraging digital and emerging technologies to support innovation, enhance opportunities for women, and address the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations.
Additionally, at the Mobile World Congress, GSMA announced grantees for its Climate Resilience and Adaptation Fund, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.
The fund supports projects utilizing technology to combat climate change effects in African and Asian countries, including AI-powered satellite imagery to help farmers increase yields and reduce food waste through an online grocery platform.
