Ministry for Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, UNICEF and International Telecommunication Union sign the Memorandum of Understanding

NUR-SULTAN, May 22, 2021. – Bagdat Musin, the Minister for Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MDDIAI), Arthur van Diesen, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, and Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on joint implementation of the GIGA initiative.

According to the memorandum, Kazakhstan’s MDDIAI will chair the GIGA Steering Committee and take the lead in coordinating the project on behalf of the Government of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan’s MDDIAI will also support and adapt the global GIGA model to the country’s context and needs.

The GIGA initiative aims to ensure that every school is connected to the internet and that every young person has access to a wealth of information, resources for learning and opportunities to grow and fulfil his/her potential.

"The GIGA initiative aligns with Kazakhstan's vision for digital development and is important for bringing the internet to schools across the region. Our partnership will create a strong foundation for an effective education system and digital economy. By conducting internet, we do not connect buildings but people and give them great opportunities," Bagdat Musin said.

The minister also said that the memorandum will strengthen the national project Digital Era Lifestyle (DigitEL), one of the objectives of which is 100% coverage of Kazakhstan with high-quality internet.

"Partnership with the Government of Kazakhstan is integral to our accelerated implementation of GIGA. As the leading country in the region on this initiative, Kazakhstan will lay the foundation for new financing models, partners and digital tools and, definitely, for opportunities and choices for all young people. This work is critical to bridging the digital divide in Central Asia and around the world. I am very pleased that we have signed the trilateral memorandum today and that this year we will continue to implement the initiative jointly in the remote regions of Kazakhstan,"  said Arthur van Diesen, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, said.

UNICEF and ITU will provide global leadership and regional expertise in order to mobilize technical resources and innovative mechanisms based on public-private partnerships (PPPs) with telecom operators to improve connectivity including last mile connectivity.

“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is a significant milestone in our efforts for bringing the benefits of digital transformation to every child and every young person in Kazakhstan. At ITU we are very excited to see GIGA contribute to the strengthening of the education system and bridging the digital divide in the country,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU.

The parties also plan to hold group consultations with telecom companies and financial institutions and to connect 25 rural schools in Kazakhstan to broadband internet with the support of UNICEF and ITU.

What does GIGA mean?

The GIGA initiative echoes Kazakhstan's vision for digitalization and connectivity, the country's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Secretary General's 1A and 1B High Level Panel’s conclusions on digital cooperation, which state that by 2030 every adult should have access to affordable digital networks and "calls for" a broad multilateral alliance with the UN to create a platform for sharing digital public goods.

GIGA has four pillars: mapping every school’s connectivity, financing the common bid that can unite demand for connectivity, connect every school and develop young people's required skills.

There are four areas of work implemented under the GIGA

Mapping – In partnership with governments, GIGA started mapping the connectivity demand, using schools as a base point, and identifying where there are connectivity gaps. This information, combined with existing ITU mapping data, allows countries to take stock of their existing infrastructure and to assess the availability of wire and wireless connectivity when evaluating appropriate solutions for connecting schools. More than 800,000 schools in 15 countries have already been mapped and the results are available at: www.projectconnect.world

Financing – GIGA will work with governments and advise them on building affordable and sustainable country-specific models for financing and delivering services, subsidizing market creation costs and incentivizing private sector investment. 

Connectivity – In partnership with industry, and based on the mapping results, GIGA will advise on the best possible technical solutions to provide schools with connectivity, and countries with safe, secure, reliable, fit-for-purpose infrastructure to support future digital development needs. This includes determining the best possible solutions for last mile connectivity. 

Empowerment – Based on the UNICEF Venture Fund's investment in open-source technology solutions, the GIGA initiative will work with governments to identify, localize and deliver relevant Digital Public Goods at a scale that is consistent with a country's development priorities and in line with the broader national digital strategy. The main attention is paid to information and skills for children, teachers and administrators.