Strengthening systems

Digital tools alone cannot address the global learning crisis. UNICEF works at the system level – helping governments build the national plans, data infrastructure, integrated platforms, and connectivity needed to ensure every child can access quality education, including digital learning. 

Limited government capacity on ICT in education, the absence of long-term national plans, financing gaps, and infrastructure deficits prevent digital education from reaching scale. A 2022 Pulse Check found that one-third of national digital learning platforms built during COVID-19 are no longer fully functional. Over 1.3 billion children — two-thirds of the world's school-age population — do not have internet access at home.

Multiple platforms and solutions for monitoring, management, and learning often operate in isolation, lacking interoperability. Decision-makers lack clear guidance to identify the most appropriate, context-relevant, inclusive and evidence-based solutions – leading to inefficiencies, siloed approaches and limited impact.  

Focus areas

• The EdTech for Good Framework is a comprehensive tool to identify and evaluate high-quality EdTech solutions that improve learning outcomes for children worldwide
• Gateways is a global initiative, collaboratively managed by UNESCO and UNICEF, to work with governments and partners on establishing digital education as a public good through high quality, inclusive national digital learning platforms and content
• Scaling Giga — UNICEF's partnership with ITU — which has mapped 2.1 million schools in 138 countries, advocates for connectivity investment, and supports governments in procurement for school internet access
• Supporting governments to develop robust, inclusive national ICT in education plans — including resilience frameworks for learning continuity during emergencies — through the Gateways initiative
• Strengthening Education Management Information and Early Warning Systems to track out-of-school and at-risk children, measure learning outcomes, and enable AI-assisted evidence-based decision-making
• Pushing for integrated, interoperable digital platforms that work together as a cohesive ecosystem – for governments, school leaders, teachers, parents and learners – rather than siloed, parallel systems
• Championing sustainable financing modalities that improve digital learning outcomes
• Advancing the UNESCO-UNICEF-ITU Charter for Public Digital Learning Platforms as a global standard for interoperability, safety and inclusive access
• Championing the Blue Unicorn Portfolio — a global programme that scouts, selects, and accelerates high-potential EdTech solutions aligned with UNICEF's five focus areas, connecting proven solutions to government markets at scale