ICC Digitalisation for People, Planet and Prosperity case study repository
While the global community is falling short of our shared and universal commitment to deliver on 17 ambitious goals for people, planet and prosperity by 2030, growing digital adoption presents as an ally in transforming quality of life globally, providing access to information, revolutionising various sectors of industry and unlocking new avenues for sustainable development. ICC firmly believes in the unique potential of ICTs and digital technologies to foster sustainable development. As the world’s largest business organization, ICC draws on the experience and evidence of businesses of all sizes and sectors to assess how digitalisation efforts driven by the private sector contribute to advancing sustainable development. The Digitalisation for People, Prosperity and Planet (#ICC4PPP) campaign, supported by a compendium of case studies from across ICC’s global business network provides evidence of how digitalisation driven by business helps the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Discover them through this case study repository.
Digitalisation for people
| Cases studies | Solution areas | Sector(s) involved | Organisation | Partner(s) | Regional focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail 4.0: Revolutionising Retail Through Online And Offline Partnership FTCCI, in association with Amazon India, organised a programme titled ''Retail 4.0: Revolutionising Retail Through Online and Offline Partnership''. Impact FTCCI and Amazon aim to digitise close to 10 million MSMEs and create 2 million jobs by 2025 in India. Currently, they have already digitised 4 million MSMEs and created 1.5 million jobs. The platform has also grown from having 100 sellers in 2013 to 11 lakhs currently, with 50% of sellers coming from tier-2 and 3 cities. | Digital services | Information technology | Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry | Amazon | Asia |
| Profuturo: Narrowing The Education Gap By Providing Quality Digital Education ProFuturo is a digital education programme created in 2016 by Telefonica Foundation and ''la Caixa'' Foundation with the mission to narrow the education gap, by providing quality digital education to children in vulnerable environments in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. The programme responds with learning and digital innovation to the widening gap in education. It also focuses on personalisation of some of the teaching-learning processes and targets a very specific school population: primary school-level students from vulnerable contexts in developing countries. ProFuturo tackles some of the most important problems in education such as the widening of the educational gap, teaching weaknesses, disengaged educational community and obsolete educational systems. To address these challenges, the programme provides teacher training, educational assistance and technical support both remote and face-to-face through local coaches, educational resources, accessible online and offline through a digital learning platform, and a monitoring and evaluation system, to measure and assess its impact. ProFuturo pilots innovations at a considerable scale (through a cascade intervention model) and shares its results and methodologies with authorities and institutions that have the resources (and/or the mandate) to scale them at national, regional or global level. Impact Profuturo has been instated in 45 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. By 2022, over 26 million children and 1.2 million teachers had been trained in digital skills. ProFuturo also generated qualitative improvements and transformations. The equipment and training provided by ProFuturo are positively valued by school principals and teachers, especially regarding the tools and innovative pedagogical practices. Educational technology has been assumed as a key transformation factor. The programme has generated positive changes in school and teacher organisation, with new distributions of time, space, responsibilities, and organisation. The evidence collected shows an improvement in teaching competencies, especially regarding digital skills, and a transformation of pedagogical practices in different environments. A clear component of attraction in schools where the programme is deployed is also observed. Children who use ProFuturo's resources are more motivated. Their attendance rates and the time dedicated to learning are also higher. The ProFuturo Programme is accomplishing an evolution in children's learning processes by improving their reading and arithmetic skills, in addition to their 21st-century skills, necessary to face the challenges of this digital era. ProFuturo has fostered community development, reinforcing the inclusion of children from vulnerable environments. | Skilling | Telecommunications and specialised technologies | Telefonica | Fundacion Telefonica and Fundacion La caixa | Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Conecta Empleo: Orientation And Training For The Labor Market Digital Transition Conecta Empleo is a free initiative aimed at improving citizens’ digital employability. In a constantly evolving labor market driven by multiple transitions, it is key to understand the ongoing trends and constantly upskill and reskill to partake in the opportunities driven by the digital transition. Conecta Empleo offers digital tools that allow people to gain a better understanding of the labor market, the most in-demand digital professions and the skills required for each of them. Using AI and Big Data, Conecta Empleo offers real-time information on digital labor demands, from a regional, national or local perspective (Map of Employment). This is a first level with potential to be even more personalised by using the Virtual Professional Advisor. Additionally, Conecta Empleo offers training on different digital and soft skills required by the labor market. The training offer adapts to different profiles, ranging from digital literacy to digital empowerment. Some of the learning journeys have been especially designed and adapted for specific productive sectors, such as construction, transportation and horto-fruticole. Conecta Empleo relies on public and private partnerships to gain scale, both to enrich the information displayed in the tools and to reach final users. So far, there are more than 200 active partnerships in Spain and Latin America (with Ministries, Academia, multilateral organizations, and NGOs among others). Impact Regarding the orientation tools, during 2022 a total of 327,000 beneficiaries used them. On a cumulative basis, it has reached more than 750,000 users. From the training perspective, in 2022 more than 305,000 unique users enrolled in the courses or itineraries. A total of 1,036,000 users have registered on the platform on a cumulative basis. Regarding user profiles, 55% of users were women in 2022, +5 pp more than in 2020. Although young people represent most users, it is important to say that more than 10% are users aged 45 and up and therefore are training to upskill or reskill. Additionally, more than 56% of users haven’t been enrolled in tertiary education. This informal training facilitates the acquisition of those skills highly demanded by the labor market. | Skilling | Education and research | Fundacion Telefonica | Fundacion Telefonica | Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Internet Para Todos: A Mechanism To Bridge The Connectivity Gap In Peru Internet Para Todos (IPT) was born as a global and collaborative initiative between Telefonica and Meta in order to bridge the digital divide in Latin America, under a sustainable and innovative model that would overcome the obstacles related to bringing connectivity to rural areas with high geographical complexity. This initiative was joined by IDB Invest and CAF, guided by the same goal of connecting the unconnected, confident that connectivity is an important lever for the development and transformation of people’s lives. IPT was consolidated as a Rural Mobile Infrastructure Operator, OIMR in Peru, starting operations on May 1st, 2019. IPT is based on an innovative, open, collaborative and sustainable model, which allows the deployment of mobile Internet service in areas of high geographical complexity, aided by technologies and disruptive processes that transform traditional networks and structures, overcoming technical and economic barriers that had not previously allowed to increase connectivity in rural areas, in line with a solid commitment to integrity, safety and health, respect for the environment and the communities where they operate. Impact Regarding the orientation tools, during 2022 a total of 327,000 beneficiaries used them. On a cumulative basis, it has reached more than 750,000 users. From the training perspective, in 2022 more than 305,000 unique users enrolled in the courses or itineraries. A total of 1,036,000 users have registered on the platform on a cumulative basis. Regarding user profiles, 55% of users were women in 2022, +5 pp more than in 2020. Although young people represent most users, it is important to say that more than 10% are users aged 45 and up and therefore are training to upskill or reskill. Additionally, more than 56% of users haven’t been enrolled in tertiary education. This informal training facilitates the acquisition of those skills highly demanded by the labor market. | Digital services | Telecommunications and specialised technologies | Internet para Todos S.A.C. | Telefonica, IDB Invest, CAF and Meta | Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe |
| Mujeres En Red: Employability And Training Program In Technical Works Of Telecommunications Telefonica Movistar incorporates diversity management as a key element of their global strategy. In this context, the "Mujeres en Red" project emerged with the aim of promoting the employability and training of women in technical work at Movistar, contributing to reducing the gender gap in spaces that are predominantly male. Mujeres en Red was born in Peru in 2020 and in 2021 it crossed borders to Telefonica's operation in Colombia. Today there are more than 900 Hispam-level technicians, hired by their collaborating companies, and more than 7,000 people trained in topics such as "Female Empowerment" and "New Masculinities". This project is also possible thanks to alliances with the government and social organizations. To fulfil its objective, Mujeres en Red works on 5 fronts: recruitment and selection, training (technical, practical and emotional), security, productivity indicators and communication/positioning. Likewise, the creation of a culture of gender equity in the company's partner companies, through inclusion policies and actions, is key to the sustainability of the project. This initiative is a clear example of the importance of having corporate policies that apply, both internally and in the company's supply chain, and that support the diversity and gender equity approach to make projects, such as the Women in Network, a reality. Both the Responsible Business Principles, the Diversity and Inclusion Policy and the Supply Chain Sustainability Policy, have been of great support to carry out this project. Impact This initiative has had a significant operational impact, achieving recognition for its impact on reducing gender gaps, such as the Scotiabank Equality Award in two of its categories and the XII Corresponsables International Award from Spain, Ranking Par 2022. The initiative has also been selected by the United Nations Global Compact as one of the 34 practices that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), among 216 applications. A summary of impact shows: Number of women hired by Movistar partner companies to provide technical work: +900 in Peru and Colombia - Peru: 352 (11%) in collaborating companies. Baseline: 12 (0.5%) - Colombia: 558 (9%) in collaborating companies. Baseline: 243 (5.2%). Number of people (technicians, technicians and administrative team) trained on gender equality issues: +7,000 in Peru and Colombia -Peru: 2,864 - Colombia: 4,251. Relationship indicators: Number of collaborating companies committed to the project: Peru: 12 (Ceva, Cobra, Comfica, Com2net, Dominion, Indra, Isetel, Lari, Likewize, Liteyca, Telemarketing and Woden), Colombia: 9 (Comfica, Cobra, FSCR Engineering, INCOOPSA, Inmel, Emcomunitel, Liteyca, Optecom and OPEGIN). Number of alliances with the public sector and allied organizations: Peru: 6, Colombia: 5. Communication indicators: Number of media outlets that published about the project: Peru: + 305 (100% positive sentiment), Colombia: 13 (100% positive sentiment). Return on investment (ROI) in communication: Peru: + S/ 339,000.00 (+ 89.000 USD), Colombia: $107 million pesos COP (27,000 USD). Links Testimonial video of Karina Mamani, one of the technicians that is part of the project in Peru in the Puno region (the country's highlands) | Skilling | Activities of member organisations | Telefonica | Telefonica | Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Global Standards For E-Commerce To Help Prevent Online Sale & Delivery Of Alcohol To Minors International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) member companies, the world’s leading beer, wine, and spirits producers, are working in partnership with prominent global and regional online retailers, and e-commerce and delivery platforms across six continents to deliver global standards for the online sale and delivery of alcohol. Together they are putting in place safeguards to help ensure that robust standards are in place throughout the entire supply chain and customer journey to prevent online sale to those underage and to combat harmful drinking as e-commerce growth accelerates. The standards include: Improving safeguards and security measures that aim to prevent minors from being able to buy alcohol, putting in place mechanisms to prevent beer, wine, and spirits being delivered to minors, to individuals showing visible signs of intoxication, or where prohibited by law, providing tools, information, and education, or other support to drivers to empower them to deny delivery, enhancing consumer information and control, promoting global standards as a resource to support the development of national level codes and practices for the online sale and delivery of alcohol that build on local and national regulation. This international initiative is part of IARD members’ wider efforts to combat underage drinking by preventing sales to minors, and reducing harmful drinking – it also speaks directly to the United Nations’ 2018 Political declaration on non-communicable diseases, which calls for concrete steps towards eliminating the marketing, advertising, and sale of alcohol products to minors. To further support these standards, IARD has launched training to support anyone delivering alcohol to do so responsibly and in accordance with the law. Impact This global partnership was established to help prevent the online sale and delivery of alcohol to minors and reduce harmful drinking among adults. The e-commerce ecosystem encompasses a diverse range of operating models, as the members of the global partnership demonstrate. However, all partners are united in recognising the interconnectedness between actors and support the promotion of the e-commerce global standards across the value chain, specifically ensuring that last-mile drivers feel supported when making or refusing a delivery. To support delivery agents, the IARD has developed a free open-source training tool to help ensure alcohol is delivered responsibly. Available in several languages, IARD works proactively with other producers, e-commerce platforms and other stakeholders to develop and establish local codes, inspired by the global standards, that build on local and national regulation. The standards have been successful in inspiring companies to incorporate them into their own business models. They also provide a basis for local codes that can build on local laws and national context. Local codes, initiatives and guidance for e-commerce have been launched in the UK that reference the IARD global standards. Ireland, China and the Philippines have also adopted an e-commerce code, inspired by the IARD global standards. Local codes are currently in development in Mexico, Panama, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Netherlands, Vietnam and many other places around the globe. Together as part of a whole-of-society approach, IARD works to raise standards across the board to help tackle alcohol harms. Links IARD eCommerce Standards IARD training tools to help prevent harmful drinking | Digital services, Infrastructure, Skilling | Producers, retailers, e-commerce and delivery platforms | International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) | Cornershop by Uber, Coles Liquor, Deliveroo, Drizly, Endeavour Drinks, Glovo, Gorillas, Grab, HipBar, JD.com, Jumia, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Mercado Libre, Minibar Delivery, ReserveBar, Retail Drinks Australia, Tipple, Uber Eats, Anheuser- Busch InBev, Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., Bacardi Limited, Beam Suntory, Brown-Forman Corporation, Carlsberg, The Coca-Cola Company, Diageo, Heineken, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited, Moët Hennessy, Molson Coors, Pernod Ricard, William Grant & Sons. | Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern America, Oceania |
| Extending High-Speed Internet Access To Underserved Areas Of The World Microsoft’s Airband Initiative was established to extend high-speed access to those without and the opportunities afforded by being connected to the digital world. Microsoft has committed to extending Internet coverage to 250 million people globally by the end of 2025, including 100 million people in Africa and 40 million people in Latin America. Accomplishing these goals will need to leverage public-private partnerships, such as Microsoft’s agreement with Liquid Intelligent Technologies in Africa which will involve middle-mile broadband providers, local ISPs for last-mile connectivity, energy access partners, international organizations and local governments. Through partnering with Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, organizations are able to create and deploy the digital infrastructure needed to provide meaningful connectivity in many different ecosystems, ultimately driving self-empowerment and sustainable development and growth. These partnerships are essential in providing local expertise and experience to help achieve a greater goal tied to what can be harnessed with the support of connectivity. It is also vital to use all available technologies to deploy networks and fill in the gaps of the hardest to reach communities – Microsoft’s approach is to use technologies based on what is best for a particular community, whether that is fixed wireless, satellite, TV white spaces, fiber or Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). Impact As of May 2023, Microsoft’s Airband Initiative has helped more than 51 million people globally gain access to the Internet and the economic and educational benefits that come with having affordable access. This includes over 4 million in the United States and 9 million people in Africa. Examples of the impact include working with AirJaldi to close the gender gap in India by providing opportunities to women, working with Bluetown to deploy last-mile technologies in Ghana to expand rural access to high-speed Internet and economic opportunity, building a multistakeholder partnership to connect students and teachers and provide new opportunities in rural Colombia. Links About Microsoft Airband Initiative Microsoft Airband Expanding Connectivity Skills in Africa Microsoft Airband in Latin America and Africa Liquid Intelligent Technologies collaboration with Microsoft Airband Microsoft Airband Initiative Impact Connecting Rural India to Economic Opportunity (AirJaldi) BLUETOWN deploys last-mile technologies to expand rural access to high-speed internet—and economic opportunity A multi-stakeholder partnership provides high-speed broadband to previously unconnected communities and enables young people to reach their highest educational potential About AirJaldi About Bluetown | Digital services, Infrastructure, Skilling | Information technology | Microsoft | Liquid Intelligent Technologies, AirJaldi, Bluetown | Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Northern America |
| Cargox Revolutionises Customs Processing In Egypt With Blockchain Advance Cargo Information Filings CargoX Platform for Blockchain Document Transfer (BDT) is used for providing all export/import documentation to Egyptian Customs Authorities for the purpose of Advance Cargo Information filings over blockchain. Paper documentation is not used anymore for ACI filings when exporting goods into Egypt. A standardised, modern Advance Cargo Information process, compliant with the globally harmonised World Customs Organization SAFE Framework (updated with the ACI in 2018), provides customs authorities with information about cargo even before it arrives in the country of importation for potential risk assessment and pre-processing. The public-private partnership Misr Technology Services (MTS) - 80% owned by the Egyptian government - authorised CargoX as its blockchain document transfer gateway service provider for the country’s official NAFEZA single-window international trade facilitation platform in March 2021 year. Underpinning CargoX’s remarkable success story is some game-changing time and cost-savings for the Egyptian government, importers, and foreign exporters doing business in Egypt. Impact Since its implementation, the project has surpassed all expectations with CargoX’s blockchain solution already used to seamlessly and safely transfer more than 4.5+ million blockchain documents for more than 107,000 customers who export into Egypt. Benefits resulting for users from the adoption of blockchain technology include increased transparency, the elimination of red tape, and a reduction in the average cargo release time from 29 days to 9 days with a notable reduction in container demurrage and storage fees. Compliance costs for shippers have also been slashed from more than USD$600 to USD$165, or less as a consequence of the move onto the blockchain. Immediate benefits for the Egyptian government include integrating 26 government bodies associated with cargo clearance, establishing a reliable national data warehouse with high-quality data used to drive the decision-making process for the ministry of finance, trade & industry, transport, and cabinet as well as the digital transformation of 6 trade documents, and the elimination of 11 other documents reducing red tape in the country dramatically. Links About National Window System ''Nafeza'' | Digital services | Information technology | CargoX Ltd | Misr Technology Services (MTS), NAFEZA | Europe, Middle East and North Africa |
| Historias Para Armar: Building Digital Citizenship And Skills Through Interactive Storytelling Historias para Armar offers an interactive digital platform that promotes storytelling with digital media from a maker perspective. It invites 8-11 year-old children to devise and create stories, providing them with the tools and educational support to see these stories realised through digital media. As a result, children become fluent in the languages of the connected world and gain hands-on experience using technology in a way that is responsible and meaningful. Impact Over 1 million children have participated, approximately 40,000 teachers have been involved and over 100,000 stories created. Links About Chicos.net | Digital services | Digital Media | The Walt Disney Company | Chicos.net | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Connectivity And Service To VALE's Mine And 980Km Mining Railroad In Brazil VALE is a Brazilian-based mining company operating the world’s largest open pit mine. In 2019, the company selected Vivo (and Telefonica Tech) as its technology partner to deploy a private 4G LTE network. It helped to automate its drilling rigs and trucks, operating 14 trucks and two automated drilling rigs. The main objectives of this digital solution were to make the company’s operations safer while improving efficiency and sustainable practices, and providing better connectivity for employees and communities living near the mine. As a continuation, Vale’s Railroad Project aims to install a private network along the 980 km mining railroad that connects the city of São Luís (Maranhão), to the extraction mine, in Carajás (Pará). In addition, the project includes delivering a public network along the entire length of the line - crossing three different states (Pará, Tocantins and Maranhão) - that will bring coverage and connect the surrounding population and locomotive passengers. Until today, these areas had no mobile coverage and now will be served by Telefonica's services, becoming the first 100% connected railroad in Brazil. Vale company will control data traffic and the coverage will impact more than 300 locomotives that, before the project, had no communication options throughout the 18 hours of journey for passengers or 3 days for cargo. Regarding the surrounding population, Vivo’s customers will have access to the entire perimeter served by the private network, which comprises 28 municipalities and 231 communities, having the potential to reach a population of approximately 500,000 people, that can benefit from connectivity at a lower cost. Impact Impact in the open pit mine project includes: a 95% increase in production and a 24% reduction in fuel consumption (10,000 tCO₂ eq per year) compared to a conventional fleet. The network now provides communications coverage for over 10,000 employees in areas with poor connectivity, while also improving accessibility for employees with disabilities (reduced mobility), who can now perform physical tasks remotely using mobile devices. VALE has identified 56 communities that now have access to 4G network coverage. In addition, the automated vehicles have not caused a single accident since their introduction in September 2019, highlighting the success of the project. Besides offering digitalisation services for the mining company's operation, the project will serve those living along the 980km of the railroad, improving prosperity, education and healthcare. The extent of coverage from the private network is of unprecedented magnitude, being one of the largest freight trains in the world circulating on Carajás’ railroad, with 330 wagons and 3.3 kilometers in length, with the capacity to transport 34,320 tons all at once. The network will enable the use of surveillance cameras to monitor the locomotives in real-time, increasing safety and preventing accidents. With more agile monitoring and automation of security systems, risks will be mitigated (eg. while bringing the train to a stop) and real-time maintenance of the 980km railroad will be improved and eased to workers (eg. diagnosis, the telemetry and a series of data for better decision-making). With continental dimensions, the project demanded a lot of adaptation including in logistics, and since the railroad crosses indigenous territories, conservation areas cannot be affected. The installations were carried out with a perspective of not only protecting the environment but also making the least possible interference with existing operations. Links About VALE Telefonica Transformation Handbooks | Infrastructure, Digital services | Energy | Vivo (Telefonica Brazil) | Vale S.A | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Mtn Uganda Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit (Mistt) Pilot To become active participants in the digital economy and reap the full socio-economic benefits of mobile, people need to not only understand the relevance of mobile Internet in their own lives, but also have the necessary digital skills to seize the opportunities. To tackle the digital skills challenge, the GSMA developed the Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit (MISTT). Free to access, the toolkit provides basic training on how to use some of the most popular apps, how data consumption works, and how to control data costs and stay safe online. MTN Uganda piloted a mobile-related digital skills training programme as part of MTN’s Data Smart programme. The pilot was conducted between April and December 2019 in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, and aimed at increasing mobile Internet use among customers living in an urban area. The training focused on teaching customers to use apps that are common in Uganda, as well as building general mobile phone skills. Impact For every customer trained during the pilot, an estimated 1.1 others benefited directly with some new knowledge and skills. This means that digital skills training of this kind has the potential to more than double its reach and achieve scale. MTN asked customers who received the training how many people they had shared their skills with and used modelling to factor for over-claim. This provided a more conservative estimate of the digital skills multiplier effect. Most learners reported that they had showed several friends or family members how to perform new tasks using mobile Internet. Customers tended to acquire and share the skills that were most compelling and of greatest interest to them, such as communicating with others for work or making social connections. Links About Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit | Skilling, Digital services | Education and research | GSMA | MTN Uganda GSMA | Africa |
| Smart Irrigation Management: Benefits Of Agrotech Solutions On Farms Frutas Mifra farm is a SME that grows cherries in the Codos region (Spain), selling to countries like France, Germany and Abu Dhabi, countries with high quality and traceability standards. The Frutas Mifra cultivation area is more than 65 hectares in size with steep slopes and difficult access areas, making the control of the irrigation system a complex and inefficient task and requiring precise control of the amount of water reaching each tree. To improve farming, the project installed a smart irrigation management system that allows monitoring the health of crops anywhere, at any time. By combining devices from Spherag with Telefonica Tech’s NB-IoT connectivity, each irrigation valve can be programmed to open and close according to the needs of each crop, as measured by climate and soil sensors. IoT devices make it possible to deploy telemetry and remote-control solutions for smart irrigation management. This technology and connectivity enables the farm to optimise its use of water and fertilisers, reducing costs and improving farm management, connecting farmers to data. Impact The main benefits of the digitalisation of the farm with the smart irrigation solution are the following: Reducing water consumption by 30% over the course of one growing season, optimising water management based on the knowledge of needs, crop water stress or soil parameters and scheduling irrigation, improved sustainability not only on water use, but by reducing carbon footprint on transport along the farm, and reducing fertiliser use by 25% over the course of one season, saving costs and increasing productivity by making more efficient use of water and fertilisers resources, optimising time in farm management through remote control of cloud platform, allowing more time to be spent on other important tasks and management work at the farm, anticipating the risk of leaks and acting immediately in the event of breakages or leaks. Digitalising the farm has been a real game changer for Mifra. Links About Mifra Mifra: a clear example of the advantages of AgroTech Technology for Smart Agriculture (AI of Things, Telefonica Tech) | Digital services, Infrastructure | Agriculture, Telecomms, ICT | Frutas Mifra | Spherag, Telefonica Tech | Europe |
| EQUALS Her Digital Skills Initiative EQUALS Her Digital Skills is an initiative co-founded by EY, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) and Women’s World Wide Web (W4), aimed at providing access to free, gender transformative, foundational digital skills education for one million women and girls by 2026. Her Digital Skills offers workshops, online learning, e-mentoring, and events around the world to help bridge the global gender digital divide. The lack of digital skills training tailored specifically around girls’ and women’s needs and preferences is one primary cause of the current digital gender divide. The flagship initiative of EQUALS is called Her Digital Skills because it is addressing the current, unmet need for gender-sensitive and gender-transformative content. The lack of digital skills training tailored specifically around girls’ and women’s needs and preferences is one primary cause of the current digital gender divide. Her Digital Skills’ offline and online learning has been created by international gender and education experts and is specifically designed to serve female beneficiaries in terms of content, teaching methods and user experience. Impact To date, the initiative has impacted the lives of thousands of beneficiaries in 30 countries across 4 continents with 98% of EQUALS HDS alumni reporting that they felt confident about pursuing further tech studies and/or a career in tech having completed the workshop and e-mentoring activities. Verizon has been a donor to the initiative for the past 2 years engaging over 1000 employees in its various programmatic elements and generating over 2000 volunteer hours to date. Links About EQUALS | Skilling | Activities of member organisations | GSMA | GSMA, ITU, EY, W4, Verizon | Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Northern America, Oceania |
| Orange Digital Centers, Boosting Digital Skills, Supporting Youth Employability And Entrepreneurship Orange has launched a network of support structures for young people and entrepreneurs in all the countries where it operates, in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and 8 countries in Europe: the Orange Digital Centers. Orange Digital Centers are ecosystems that provide support, training and mentoring for young people and bearers of innovative ideas, to support their employability and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow (AI, Cybersecurity, etc.), or to encourage them to become digital entrepreneurs. Orange Digital Centers bring together in a single location a range of free programs open to all, from digital training for young people to start-up acceleration, as well as support for and investment in project leaders. Concretely, the centres include a coding school, a Solidarity FabLab, an Orange Fab start-up accelerator, and support from Orange Ventures, Orange’s investment fund in the most promising start-ups. The program is being rolled out in each country in close collaboration with a number of stakeholders, including governments, local and international NGOs and academia. A partnership with the federally owned enterprise GIZ, operating on behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has accelerated the project’s deployment in the Africa and Middle East region to help even more young people learn the skills they need to find jobs in the digital sector and encourage entrepreneurship. A recently signed partnership with Digital Africa will mobilise synergies to empower African start-ups and promote digital innovation ''made in Africa''. Partnerships with certified content providers such as Google and Amazon Web Services allow the Orange Digital Centers to provide professional training and certificates. Over the next years, Orange Digital Centers will develop digital entrepreneurship in countries’ priority sectors, such as climate/environment, e-agri, e-health, and e-commerce, with a special focus on women and on the digitally excluded. Impact The Orange Digital Centers foster innovative entrepreneurial projects, boost the employability of participants, promote women in digital jobs, and support participants to become more autonomous with digital through digital literacy classes. 749,000 people have benefited from activities organised by Orange Digital Centers in the Africa and Middle East region by 2022, with 42,000 young people trained, 40% of them women. In Europe, where Orange Digital Centers recently opened, more than 6,800 people followed trainings in 2022-23. 160 start-ups have been supported in Africa and the Middle East, leading to the development of their business and the signing of commercial contracts with Orange or its partners, and over 200 in Europe through the Orange Fab accelerator. Some trainings allow participants to discover new jobs in the digital field and to move on to more advanced training in web development, cybersecurity, digital manufacturing, or other specialisations. Other training courses lead to professional qualifications, which greatly enhance employability. | Skilling | Information technology | Orange | GIZ, operating on behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Amazon Web Services, Google | Africa, Europe, Middle East and North Africa |
Digitalisation for planet
| Cases studies | Solution areas | Sector(s) involved | Organisation | Partner(s) | Regional focus |
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| Roadmap: 100% Renewable Energy By 2030 Climate change is one of the most important challenges society faces. Telefonica Hispam is aware of its role as a driver of change and of the urgency to reduce CO₂ emissions. In 2022, in its eight operations in Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela) they consumed 1,755 GWh/year of electricity, which is equivalent to half the electricity consumption of a country like Nicaragua. For this reason, they developed the "100% Renewable Energy Roadmap by 2030" project, a comprehensive plan for the purchase, generation and certification of renewable energy with the goal of 100% of their electricity consumption coming from renewable sources by 2030. By 2023, 49% of their electricity consumption will come from renewable sources, avoiding the emission of more than 156 thousand tons of CO₂ . Not only do they want to be 100% renewable, but as a large consumer of electricity, they help countries generate more clean energy. The project is based on four lines of action based on the current regulations of each country: the construction of small solar power plants in their power plants, the self-generation of energy in their radio bases, the signing of long-term power purchase agreements (PPA's) with electricity companies and the acquisition of international renewable energy certificates iREC's. Impact With this project, the company invested +17 million dollars in 2022 for the purchase of renewable energy, iREC's certificates and the installation of photovoltaic self-generation systems. By the end of the year, 49% of the energy used was renewable at the Hispam level (+10 percentage points compared to 2021), which allowed to achieve a 62% reduction in CO₂ emissions, compared to the base year, 2015. It is important to note that in Peru and Chile they have reached 100% renewable energy, and in Colombia they are already at 87%. Their commitment in 2023 is to achieve 50% renewable energy in Latin America, which is equivalent to avoiding 153 thousand tons of CO₂ . Towards the end of this year, Telefonica Hispam will be halfway towards the goal set for 2030, which consists of consuming 100% renewable energy in the 8 operations in which they are present at the Hispam level. In addition, although the objective of the project is to face climate change, this, in turn, allows them to access sustainable loans, which have a preferential interest rate for compliance with sustainability indicators, as is the case in their operation in Colombia. Among other indicators, the percentage of renewable energy is audited, which will allow the operation to save more than 15.5 million Colombian pesos (equivalent to 3,329.40 dollars) in the period of validity of the credits (2021-2025), that it has with Banco Scotiabank Colpatria. In a similar way to that country, work is being done to replicate this action in other countries of Latin America. Likewise, compliance with renewable energy goals is part of the indicators that the company evaluates in the "Variable Remuneration System" for employees at the Latin American level, which also contributes to the sustainability of the project. | Infrastructure | Energy | Telefonica | Telefonica | Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Mapping The World's Utility-Scale Solar And Wind Energy Installations The Global Renewables Watch (GRW) is a first-of-its-kind living atlas aiming to map and measure all utility-scale solar and wind installations on Earth using AI and satellite imagery, allowing users to evaluate clean energy transition progress and track trends over time. It also provides unique spatial data on land use trends to help achieve the dual aims of environmental protection and increasing renewable energy capacity. The GRW is a joint program between Microsoft, Planet Labs PBC, and The Nature Conservancy. It is being built as a publicly-available renewable energy atlas with country-by-country insights about rates of development and land use trends. The GRW will make its data and findings available at GlobalRenewablesWatch.org for decision-making and integration into wider analyses. Data can help us understand, visualise, solve some of the most pressing societal challenges the world faces today and inform more impactful policy development. When data is made more open and accessible, we can accelerate innovation and advance real-world impact, together. The GRW is part of Microsoft’s effort to put data to work to benefit people around the world. Microsoft is also a founding member of the Industry Data for Society Partnership (IDSP), a first-of-its kind cross-industry partnership to advance more open and accessible private sector data to help address societal challenges in areas such as sustainability and create inclusive economic growth. Impact Access to high-quality data is critical to enabling measurement and realisation of the SDGs. Current methods for tracking solar and wind energy projects globally are an immensely complex undertaking, cutting across countless jurisdictions and with much of the data held by private organizations. The GRW aims to provide this data by coupling AI with high-resolution satellite imagery and presenting it in a dynamically updated time series. The GRW will provide data that helps both researchers and policymakers understand current renewable energy capacities and gaps, and to recognise patterns about the potential impacts of renewable energy development on landscapes over time. As such, it aims to assist decision-makers in search of more efficient and effective options for renewable energy development. As of June 2023, mapping is complete for the United States, Germany, India, Kenya, Brazil, and Egypt. The first full global inventory is expected to be completed in 2023 and will undergo both scientific and technical validation. The Industry Data for Society Partnership (IDSP) was launched in December 2022, bringing together companies that are committing to making private industry data more accessible, so that nonprofits, researchers, private companies, and governments can work together to better understand today’s societal challenges – and more importantly take decisive and informed action to solve them. The partnership places renewed attention on the importance of data sharing and collaboration to help society. In addition to the shared commitments, the IDSP also established a forum to collaborate with experts and consult with organizations that have a depth of knowledge on these topics. In February, the IDSP and the Open Data Institute launched a Data for Local Environments Challenge to highlight the role publicly available data can play in helping local governments to improve local environments, such as reaching their net zero goals. Links About Industry Data for Society About The Industry Data for Society Partnership (IDSP) | Digital services | Information technology | Microsoft | Planet Labs PBC and the Nature Conservancy | Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Northern America, Oceania |
| Connectivity And Service To VALE's Mine And 980Km Mining Railroad In Brazil VALE is a Brazilian-based mining company operating the world’s largest open pit mine. In 2019, the company selected Vivo (and Telefonica Tech) as its technology partner to deploy a private 4G LTE network. It helped to automate its drilling rigs and trucks, operating 14 trucks and two automated drilling rigs. The main objectives of this digital solution were to make the company’s operations safer while improving efficiency and sustainable practices, and providing better connectivity for employees and communities living near the mine. As a continuation, Vale’s Railroad Project aims to install a private network along the 980 km mining railroad that connects the city of São Luís (Maranhão), to the extraction mine, in Carajás (Pará). In addition, the project includes delivering a public network along the entire length of the line - crossing three different states (Pará, Tocantins and Maranhão) - that will bring coverage and connect the surrounding population and locomotive passengers. Until today, these areas had no mobile coverage and now will be served by Telefonica's services, becoming the first 100% connected railroad in Brazil. Vale company will control data traffic and the coverage will impact more than 300 locomotives that, before the project, had no communication options throughout the 18 hours of journey for passengers or 3 days for cargo. Regarding the surrounding population, Vivo’s customers will have access to the entire perimeter served by the private network, which comprises 28 municipalities and 231 communities, having the potential to reach a population of approximately 500,000 people, that can benefit from connectivity at a lower cost. Impact Impact in the open pit mine project includes: a 95% increase in production and a 24% reduction in fuel consumption (10,000 tCO₂ eq per year) compared to a conventional fleet. The network now provides communications coverage for over 10,000 employees in areas with poor connectivity, while also improving accessibility for employees with disabilities (reduced mobility), who can now perform physical tasks remotely using mobile devices. VALE has identified 56 communities that now have access to 4G network coverage. In addition, the automated vehicles have not caused a single accident since their introduction in September 2019, highlighting the success of the project. Besides offering digitalisation services for the mining company's operation, the project will serve those living along the 980km of the railroad, improving prosperity, education and healthcare. The extent of coverage from the private network is of unprecedented magnitude, being one of the largest freight trains in the world circulating on Carajás’ railroad, with 330 wagons and 3.3 kilometers in length, with the capacity to transport 34,320 tons all at once. The network will enable the use of surveillance cameras to monitor the locomotives in real-time, increasing safety and preventing accidents. With more agile monitoring and automation of security systems, risks will be mitigated (eg. while bringing the train to a stop) and real-time maintenance of the 980km railroad will be improved and eased to workers (eg. diagnosis, the telemetry and a series of data for better decision-making). With continental dimensions, the project demanded a lot of adaptation including in logistics, and since the railroad crosses indigenous territories, conservation areas cannot be affected. The installations were carried out with a perspective of not only protecting the environment but also making the least possible interference with existing operations. Links About VALE Telefonica Transformation Handbooks | Infrastructure, Digital services | Energy | Vivo (Telefonica Brazil) | Vale S.A | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Smart Irrigation Management: Benefits Of Agrotech Solutions On Farms Frutas Mifra farm is a SME that grows cherries in the Codos region (Spain), selling to countries like France, Germany and Abu Dhabi, countries with high quality and traceability standards. The Frutas Mifra cultivation area is more than 65 hectares in size with steep slopes and difficult access areas, making the control of the irrigation system a complex and inefficient task and requiring precise control of the amount of water reaching each tree. To improve farming, the project installed a smart irrigation management system that allows monitoring the health of crops anywhere, at any time. By combining devices from Spherag with Telefonica Tech’s NB-IoT connectivity, each irrigation valve can be programmed to open and close according to the needs of each crop, as measured by climate and soil sensors. IoT devices make it possible to deploy telemetry and remote-control solutions for smart irrigation management. This technology and connectivity enables the farm to optimise its use of water and fertilisers, reducing costs and improving farm management, connecting farmers to data. Impact The main benefits of the digitalisation of the farm with the smart irrigation solution are the following: Reducing water consumption by 30% over the course of one growing season, optimising water management based on the knowledge of needs, crop water stress or soil parameters and scheduling irrigation, improved sustainability not only on water use, but by reducing carbon footprint on transport along the farm, and reducing fertiliser use by 25% over the course of one season, saving costs and increasing productivity by making more efficient use of water and fertilisers resources, optimising time in farm management through remote control of cloud platform, allowing more time to be spent on other important tasks and management work at the farm, anticipating the risk of leaks and acting immediately in the event of breakages or leaks. Digitalising the farm has been a real game changer for Mifra. Links About Mifra Mifra: a clear example of the advantages of AgroTech Technology for Smart Agriculture (AI of Things, Telefonica Tech) | Digital services, Infrastructure | Agriculture, Telecomms, ICT | Frutas Mifra | Spherag, Telefonica Tech | Europe |
| Port Of Livorno – Port Of The Future Europe's ports are vital gateways, linking its transport corridors to the rest of the world. Today, ports in Europe are challenged to increase efficiency and productivity. It is of high importance that European ports evolve through sustainable development, securing benefits in terms of competitiveness and economy growth, as well as to workers and habitants of port-cities and improving environmental impact. Ericsson and TIM, in collaboration with Livorno Port Authority, CNIT, in the context of EU project COREALIS, deployed a 5G dedicated network in the Port of Livorno terminals and developed an IoT/Augmented Reality (AR) solution and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based control functionalities to optimise the logistics of loading/unloading cargo of one of the terminals, improving efficiency, productivity and sustainability. Impact Results indicate that 5G connectivity can generate a large number of benefits for the port system including: an increase in competitiveness; increased safety for personnel; the sustainable growth of the port city; management of responsible business in logistics; and a positive environmental impact that is estimated in CO₂ savings of 8.2% per year (according to case study ''EU H2020 Corealis 5G''). Optimising vessel berthing can lead to a 20% average cost reduction per year, which is approximately EUR 2.5 million. The benefits have been measured towards the UN SDGs Agenda 2030 as a reference framework for progressing and measuring the port's sustainable development, in particular SDG 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 17. Links The 5G Port of the Future About COREALIS | Infrastructure, Digital services | Logistics | Port Network Authority of the North Thyrrenian Sea | Telecom Italia, Ericsson CNIT, Fondazione ENI Enrico Mattei (FEEM) | Europe |
| Biodiversity And Ecosystem Based Climate Change Adaptation In Gujarat, India This project focuses on enhancing the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities in the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat, India, against climate change and natural hazards. The approach combines ecosystem-based solutions, community engagement, and technology to promote adaptation. The project involves planting around 100,000 mangroves and other plant species in select coastal villages near Porbandar. Mangroves act as a natural barrier against cyclones, storm surges, erosion, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events. This initiative aims to mitigate the impacts of these hazards and improve coastal resilience. Additionally, the project includes community-led efforts to plant 20,000 fruit-bearing trees across 10 villages. This not only supports environmental conservation, but also creates alternative income opportunities for over 2,000 local families. By diversifying income sources, communities become more economically resilient, reducing their dependence on activities vulnerable to climate-related hazards. To optimise mangrove growth, Internet of Things technology is employed. Through geo-tagging, sensors, and peripheral devices, real-time monitoring of growth conditions becomes possible. This data-driven approach enables informed decision-making to optimise growth and increase effectiveness. Mangroves not only provide physical protection but also play a role in climate change mitigation. They capture and store carbon dioxide, aiding in greenhouse gas emissions reduction and climate change combat. By combining ecosystem-based solutions, community engagement, and technology, this project aims to enhance the resilience of coastal communities. Through mangrove establishment, alternative income generation, and advanced monitoring technologies, the project protects coastal areas, improves livelihoods, and contributes to global climate change mitigation efforts. Impact This initiative builds on Ericsson’s award-winning Connected Mangroves project in Malaysia that was launched in 2015 in Sasmuan, and in Pampanga in the Philippines in 2017. In these earlier projects, the solution helped to increase the survival rate of the Mangrove saplings from 40% to 80%. This case study has the potential to significantly impact vulnerable coastal communities in Gujarat, India. By adopting an ecosystem-based, community-centred, and technology-driven approach, the project enhances resilience ensuring an 80% of mangroves survival rate. Planting 100,000 mangroves and other species provides protection against hazards, while community-led fruit-bearing plantation initiatives involving plantation of 20,000 fruit-bearing saplings create alternate income opportunities. The integration of Ericsson's technology into the project enables real-time monitoring of the growth conditions for the mangroves. This data-driven approach, including 15 sensor nodes comprised of 75 sensors, empowers decision-makers to optimise growth and maximise the effectiveness of ecosystem-based adaptation measures. By leveraging technology, the project showcases innovation and the role of digital solutions in addressing climate change challenges. Overall, this project mitigates risks, improves livelihoods, and serves as a model for effective climate change adaptation. The establishment of mangroves contributes to climate change mitigation. This case study demonstrates the power of holistic approaches in building resilience and has far-reaching economic, environmental, and social impacts on coastal communities. Links Ericsson partners with AKAH in India to counter climate change and improve livelihoods through mangrove planting in coastal Gujarat | Digital services, Infrastructure | Environmental Conservation and Restoration, Community Development and Livelihoods, Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience | Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India (AKAH India) | Ericsson India Global Services Private Limited, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India (AKAH India) Department of Climate Change, Government of Gujarat Forest Department, Porbandar, Government of Gujarat | Asia |
| Telenor Green Radio Project In a ''Green Radio'' project, Telenor Group has used AI to develop algorithms that use data to profile and predict load for each of the thousands of individual radio units in a network. This prediction is then used to automatically put radios in low-power ''sleep-mode'' in areas where it is likely that there will be few customers using their phones. The job of the algorithm is to maximise power saving while ensuring that customers are not suffering from low network capacity. Impact Telenor Group’s goal is to reduce power consumption and CO₂ emissions by using data-driven methods and AI. Power consumed by the cell tower radios is the main contributor to telecom operators' CO₂ footprint. Telenor Group's ambition is to become carbon neutral by 2030, so it is high on Telenor’s agenda to reduce network energy usage. Links About Telenor Green Radio Project | Infrastructure, Digital services | Telecommunications and specialised technologies | GSMA | Telenor | Europe |
| AT&T And Soiltech: Helping Increase Crop Yield, Reduce Waste And Lower Emissions The Soiltech Sensor uses AT&T Internet of Things (IoT) to help farmers improve crops, save water and reduce emissions. The sensor has no wires and no antennas, which enables the device to be planted totally underground without worrying about being close to a router or power source and without interfering with machinery or operations. The sensor precisely records and transmits data for soil moisture, temperature, humidity, location and damage while crops are being grown, transported and stored. The data are transmitted over the AT&T network to the Soiltech App in near real-time to help farmers make critical decisions. By having such complete data about crops, farmers can realise several benefits that help reduce environmental impact and improve their bottom line. This technology helps increase yield, reduce spoilage, decrease water consumption in irrigation, and decrease farm vehicle fuel consumption by reducing the need to drive for in-person monitoring of fields. Soiltech sensors also lead to a reduction in fertilizer use, though this is currently not being accounted for in this case study. Carbon savings associated with the use of the Soiltech Sensor come from four main areas: Reduced emission intensity due to increased yield, reduced consumption of irrigation water, resulting in less pump energy used and therefore fewer GHG emissions, reduced spoilage of crops, avoiding the farmer having to use additional water, land, fuel, and fertilizer to achieve the contracted level of production, reduced emissions from farm vehicles, as the remote monitoring reduces the need to physically visit the fields to check moisture levels, water savings are a result of less water used for irrigation. Impact Using the Soiltech Sensor, a potato farm covering 10,000 acres could save 500 million gallons of water a year, reduce carbon emission equivalent to over 250,000 gallons of gasoline, and increase crop yield by 4%, or over 10,000 additional tons of potatoes. Wider adoption of this type of sensor could have substantial environmental benefits, as well as improve crop quality and yield and economic productivity. The data used in this case study relates to the calendar year 2020. AT&T and Soiltech have implemented this solution in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the United States and the UK. Soiltech is also working with other infrastructure partners to provide the Soiltech Sensor solution in other countries around the world, including Senegal. Links About AT&T Soiltech About The Soiltech solution | Digital services, Infrastructure | Telecommunications and specialised technologies | AT&T | Soiltech Wireless Inc | Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern America |
Digitalisation for prosperity
| Cases studies | Solution areas | Sector(s) involved | Organisation | Partner(s) | Regional focus |
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| Implementation Of Data Science Course In Brazilian High Schools The "Data Science in Schools" program by Fundação Telefônica Vivo in Brazil represents a significant effort to equip high school students with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in a data-centric world, fostering innovation and preparing them for future career opportunities. By creating a curriculum to implement altogether with State Departments of Education in Brazil, the program seeks to bridge the gap between traditional education and the demands of an increasingly data-driven world. By offering data science courses in high schools, the program aims to prepare students for future careers that require a strong understanding of data analysis, interpretation, and decision-making. The curriculum of the program covers various topics, including statistical analysis, data visualisation, machine learning, and data ethics. Students learn how to collect and analyse data, gain insights from it, and apply their findings to solve real-world problems. They also develop critical thinking skills and learn to approach complex challenges with a data-driven mindset. To ensure effective implementation, the program utilises a blended learning approach, combining in-person classes with online resources and tools. This approach allows students to engage in hands-on activities, collaborate with their peers, and receive personalised guidance from qualified instructors. The program not only focuses on technical skills but also emphasises the importance of ethical considerations and responsible data usage. Students learn about privacy, security, and the ethical implications of working with data, fostering a culture of responsible data handling. By introducing data science in high schools, the program aims to democratise access to this field, especially among underprivileged students who may not have had previous exposure to such opportunities. It seeks to empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the data-driven economy and contribute to societal development. Impact As the second step of a study commissioned by Fundação Telefônica Vivo to gain a deeper understanding of our youth's perspectives in light of the future of work and leveraging the ongoing high school reform taking place nationwide, the project focuses on the integration of public school students into the technology sector by establishing a school that is more attuned to their realities and aspirations, while also considering their future professional prospects. Among the analysed studies, it is necessary to emphasise two pieces of extremely relevant information for the project's development. The 2020 Sectoral Report of the Information Technology and Communication Macrossector, prepared by Brasscom, the Brazilian Association of Information Technology and Communication Companies, indicates an annual demand for 70,000 professionals until 2024, while the country only produces 46,000 individuals with technological competencies. Additionally, a study conducted by a group of third-sector institutions with over 7,500 students in Brazil reveals that 98% of students agree that there should be vocational training options aligned with the job market, and 48% of the young individuals who considered dropping out of school stated that it was to seek employment opportunities. In this scenario, Fundação Telefônica Vivo has developed a curriculum, which is subject to discussion and adaptation to align with the realities of the state education departments, ensuring its seamless incorporation into their initiatives. This approach enhances the stakeholders' connection to the proposal and fosters a greater sense of ownership, enabling its long-term implementation. Currently, the project is in its second year of implementation, engaging three state education departments and operating in over 24 schools with an enrollment of 700 students in the course. Additionally, the project has received interest from two additional networks, Minas Gerais and São Paulo, the largest state education networks in Brazil, who are eager to implement the curriculum. | Skilling | Education and research | Vivo Telefônica Foundation | Mato Grosso State Education Department, Santa Catarina State Education Department, Espírito Santo State Education Department | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Eco Smart Services: Boosting Efficiency While Decarbonising The Economy Telefonica develops services based on connectivity, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud, big data, Artificial Intelligence and 5G. These solutions generate operational and environmental benefits. They are used by cities as well as companies of different sizes and key sectors. In connectivity, they have one of the most sustainable networks in the industry: they replaced copper with fibre optics, which are 85% more energy efficient, they use renewable energy and shut down old networks (SDGs 9, 11, 13). In the digital workplace, through solutions that allow to connect and work remotely. They reduce commuting, fuel consumption and office air conditioning, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions and air pollution in cities (SDGs 9, 11, 13). In cloud computing, their services use servers hosted in Data Centres with high energy efficiency standards, which is why the migration of companies to the cloud translates into a significant reduction in carbon emissions and favours greater circularity (SDGs 9, 11, 13). Transforming public lighting systems to improve efficiency, safety and sustainability (SDGs 9, 11, 13). In smart transport and fleet management, they are helping businesses improve on-road productivity, road safety and energy efficiency (SDGs 9, 11, 12, 13). In water and gas metering, they offer an end-to-end solution that enables remote management and reading of water and gas meters (SDGs 6, 9, 11, 12). In energy efficiency solutions, they offer end-to-end proposals aimed at ensuring maximum energy efficiency in customer facilities by reducing consumption by up to 25% (SDGs 7, 9, 11, 13). In IoT connectivity, they offer a service that securely, efficiently, and robustly connects IoT and m2m devices with their customers' business processes (SDGs 6, 9, 11, 12, 13). In Eco Rating, they provide information on the impact of mobile phones on the planet throughout their life cycle with Eco Rating. They help customers choose the most sustainable handsets, and manufacturers incorporate increasingly ambitious environmental criteria into their processes. Impact Their solutions for businesses, governments and citizens have a positive impact on the environment. It is estimated that digitalisation has the potential to reduce global CO₂ emissions by 15-35%. In particular, they reduce energy consumption, water consumption, CO₂ emissions and boost the circular economy. They reduce 15% of fuel in fleets, 20% of water in agriculture, 30% of consumption in public lighting and 15% of electricity in buildings. In confinement alone, more than 2 million TCO₂ were avoided with teleworking. Their connectivity services also enable people to adopt more sustainable habits - video calls, teleworking, distance learning or car sharing - which minimise their commute and therefore CO₂ emissions. In 2022, thanks to the efficiencies generated by Eco Smart and connectivity services, customers avoided 81.71 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. This demonstrates the ability of new technologies to accelerate the transformation of the economy towards a more sustainable model. This figure, considerably higher than that reported in previous years, is due to the fact that Telefonica has updated and incorporated new services into its methodology for calculating the enabling effect of decarbonisation generated by its solutions. Links Telefonica Sustainability and Innovation Telefonica Sustainable Development Impact and SDGs | Digital services | Telecommunications and specialised technologies | Telefonica | Telefonica | Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe |
| Digital Village Project Empowers Mexican Rural Residents To Become Online Entrepreneurs To incubate digital talents, while helping revitalise Mexico’s rural economy, Alibaba and local partners have established eight digital villages in six Mexican states, benefiting over 1,500 local companies. These communities are modelled after the ''Taobao Digital Villages'' in rural China, small villages where residents make a living selling local specialties from jewellery to fruit on e-commerce platforms. In 2020, the ''Mexican Digital Village Project'' was launched with the aim of nurturing local Mexican talent and supporting the digital transformation of Mexican micro, small and medium-sized businesses. Through providing actionable guidance and training, the partnership will help Mexican enterprises expand their business online through digital transformation and will support MSMEs to get better access and more opportunities to participate in the global digital market. As part of the project, over 8,000 local Mexican university students have received training from more than 400 instructors. These students have subsequently been connected with nearly 1,500 local MSMEs to support them in undergoing their digital transformation. The training content of the project includes: an introduction to the digital economy, the digital transformation of traditional enterprises, new retail, smart logistics, new finance, new manufacturing, and other relevant educational content. Additionally, digital marketing, start-up investment & financing, mission-driven entrepreneurship, and other entrepreneurial practices, are being taught via live online teaching sessions. Some students get the opportunity to experience Taobao Digital Villages in China first-hand, by visiting them in person. Digital Village projects are launched under the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP), a private sector-led, multistakeholder initiative to promote public-private collaboration and dialogue in support of inclusive global trade and digital economy development. eWTP was initiated by Alibaba in 2016 and endorsed by world leaders at the 2016 G20 Summit. Its vision is to promote inclusive trade by supporting women and youth and empowering MSMEs to participate in the global digital economy. Impact As a result of the Mexican Digital Village Project, nearly 1,500 enterprises in the region have transformed their business from ‘offline’ to ‘online’, including now offering online products, establishing online storefronts, and using digital payment solutions and digital logistics. In the past two years, the project has transformed many local Mexican villages into ''Digital Villages'', helping to facilitate the sale of typical Mexican items such as molcajetes (stone mortars), ceramics, and foods such as avocados. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are becoming a growing source of employment, with a growing number of local crafts makers and farmers trying their hand at selling over e-commerce and social media. Over 400 university teachers have participated in the program, learning both theoretical concepts in the digital economy and how to apply best practices. Afterwards, these teachers applied the learnings in their own classes, benefiting over 8,000 students. Subsequently, these students have been linked with nearly 1,500 local businesses, helping them undergo a digital transformation, ushering in a new digital era for many traditional enterprises. Many Mexican specialty products, including honey and Mexican handcrafts, are now not only sold locally but around the globe. Digital villages have positively impacted participating Mexican companies, who have seen a tremendous increase in income of between 200 and 300%. Links Digital Village Project Enables Mexican Rural Residents To Become Online Entrepreneur | Skilling, Digital services | Education and research | Alibaba Group | Latin America and the Caribbean | |
| E-Services For The Members Of Croatian Chamber Of Economy As Legal Entity With Public Authorities ''Digital Chamber'' is a communication platform for business entities, public administration and citizens. Croatian Chamber of Commerce (Hrvatska gospodarska komora – HGK) has started the project ''Digital Chamber'' as a part of ''e-Services Development'' programme, sponsored by European fund for regional development, and the Operational programme ''Competitiveness and Cohesion''. HGK as legal entity with public authorities offers e-services through ''Digital Chamber'' thus representing digital transformation of all business processes at HGK. ''Digital Chamber'' is a unique digital communication platform for e-services which are available to the members of HGK and the whole business community as well as to the public administration and citizens. Impact The digital transformation of the Croatian Chamber of Economy (Hrvatska gospodarska komora - HGK) has been successfully performed. HGK as legal entity with public authorities has offered e-services to entire business community in Croatia as well as to the public administration and citizens thus contributing to digital transformation of the Croatian economy and society. In parallel an adequate education of employees at HGK and users of "Digital Chamber" has been performed thus contributing to "digital literacy" and increasing efficiency of both the business and public sector in Croatia. Links About Digital Chamber | Digital services, Infrastructure, Skilling | Legal services | Hrvatska gospodarska komora (HGK) - Croatian Chamber of Economy | Europe | |
| Closing The Cybersecurity Skills Gap, With A Focus On Women Cybersecurity continues to be a significant threat for governments, businesses and individuals around the world. From supply chain disruptions to ransomware attacks, cybercriminals have become increasingly sophisticated and the threat landscape more diverse. These cybersecurity challenges are compounded by a workforce shortage; there simply aren’t enough people with the cybersecurity skills needed to fill open jobs and demand for cybersecurity skills continues to grow. Microsoft’s Cybersecurity Skills Initiative aims to tackle this problem, partnering with nonprofits and other educational institutions to train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals in 28 countries across the world. The Microsoft Learn platform offers training on cybersecurity to any individual interested in starting a career in cybersecurity, as well as IT professionals looking to expand their cybersecurity skillset. The program also aims to equip learners with industry-recognised certifications to facilitate access to further learning and jobs in the industry. Women make up only 25% of the global cybersecurity workforce so it is more important than ever to encourage and empower women to pursue these careers. In April 2023, Microsoft launched a series of new partnerships with organizations focused on skilling women in cybersecurity. The partnerships include WOMCY, a non-profit on opportunities for women in cybersecurity in Latin America, Women4Cyber, a foundation working to promote and support the participation of women in cybersecurity in Europe, ITU’s Women in Cyber Mentorship Program and WiCyS, a global community of women, allies, and advocates dedicated to advancing women in cybersecurity. Microsoft is also partnering with the OECD in support of a detailed study that analyses the cybersecurity skills gap and presents strategies to grow cybersecurity workforces through secondary education and training. Impact As of April 2023, more than 400,000 people across the world have been trained through a variety of channels, including the Microsoft Learn platform, where people have earned valuable security training certificates, and through LinkedIn Learning courses, including systems administration, network security, and more. In terms of specific examples, Microsoft’s CyberShikshaa program is closing the gender divide in the cybersecurity field in India. Since its inception, CyberShikshaa has trained 1,250 women and employed more than 800 women. The newest addition to the program’s portfolio, CyberShikshaa for Educators with ICT Academy, will provide cybersecurity training to 400 faculty members so they can help build cybersecurity careers for 6,000 underserved students across 100 rural technical institutions and facilitate job opportunities for over 1,500 students. Microsoft’s program has helped women across the globe start careers in the cybersecurity industry. These efforts are having tremendous impacts on a personal scale. One example is Aimee Reyes who was facing homelessness but, after receiving training support through one of Microsoft’s nonprofit partners, started a career in cybersecurity. In Aimee’s words, this allowed her to ''keep that promise to myself … [and] move forward not just in my career but in a sense of self-worth.'' With today’s news, we hope to make sure that Aimee’s story can be one of many. Links 2.5 million-plus cybersecurity jobs are open—women can fill them The world needs cybersecurity experts – Microsoft expands skilling effort with a focus on women Building a Skilled Cyber Security Workforce in Five Countries (OECD) Career Essentials in System Administration by Microsoft and LinkedIn How CyberShikshaa is ushering in gender diversity in India’s cybersecurity sector Microsoft and partners developing an inclusive cyber workforce About Microsoft Learn Platform Learn more about Aimee Reyes' story About WOMCY About Women4Cyber About ITU Women in Cyber Mentorship Program About WiCyS | Skilling | Information technology | Microsoft | WOMCY Women4Cyber International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Women in Cyber Mentorship Program WiCyS Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) | Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Oceania |
| LIFE Legacy Program: Life Skills, Icts, Financial Literacy And Entrepreneurship The LIFE Legacy Program connects underserved African youth with digital opportunities and improving livelihoods through digital inclusion. It equips young Africans with digital literacy and entrepreneurship skills and connects them to internships and entrepreneurial ventures. The initiative aims to build the capacity of participants across a broad set of digital skills, such as programming, digital marketing, design applications, productivity tools, and more. LIFE uses a train-the-trainer model, allowing graduates to return as trainers and mentors for new participants. Impac The LIFE Legacy Program has a track record of beneficiaries that have applied knowledge from the program to secure jobs, internships and to start small businesses to improve their livelihoods and that of their families. The program impacts more than 250 young people every year. The trained youth are either matched with companies to complete internships, trained to begin online work, or supported to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas. Links About Paragdim Initiative | Skilling | Digital Media | The Walt Disney Company | Paradigm Initiative | Africa |
| Connectivity And Service To VALE's Mine And 980Km Mining Railroad In Brazil VALE is a Brazilian-based mining company operating the world’s largest open pit mine. In 2019, the company selected Vivo (and Telefonica Tech) as its technology partner to deploy a private 4G LTE network. It helped to automate its drilling rigs and trucks, operating 14 trucks and two automated drilling rigs. The main objectives of this digital solution were to make the company’s operations safer while improving efficiency and sustainable practices, and providing better connectivity for employees and communities living near the mine. As a continuation, Vale’s Railroad Project aims to install a private network along the 980 km mining railroad that connects the city of São Luís (Maranhão), to the extraction mine, in Carajás (Pará). In addition, the project includes delivering a public network along the entire length of the line - crossing three different states (Pará, Tocantins and Maranhão) - that will bring coverage and connect the surrounding population and locomotive passengers. Until today, these areas had no mobile coverage and now will be served by Telefonica's services, becoming the first 100% connected railroad in Brazil. Vale company will control data traffic and the coverage will impact more than 300 locomotives that, before the project, had no communication options throughout the 18 hours of journey for passengers or 3 days for cargo. Regarding the surrounding population, Vivo’s customers will have access to the entire perimeter served by the private network, which comprises 28 municipalities and 231 communities, having the potential to reach a population of approximately 500,000 people, that can benefit from connectivity at a lower cost. Impact Impact in the open pit mine project includes: a 95% increase in production and a 24% reduction in fuel consumption (10,000 tCO₂ eq per year) compared to a conventional fleet. The network now provides communications coverage for over 10,000 employees in areas with poor connectivity, while also improving accessibility for employees with disabilities (reduced mobility), who can now perform physical tasks remotely using mobile devices. VALE has identified 56 communities that now have access to 4G network coverage. In addition, the automated vehicles have not caused a single accident since their introduction in September 2019, highlighting the success of the project. Besides offering digitalisation services for the mining company's operation, the project will serve those living along the 980km of the railroad, improving prosperity, education and healthcare. The extent of coverage from the private network is of unprecedented magnitude, being one of the largest freight trains in the world circulating on Carajás’ railroad, with 330 wagons and 3.3 kilometers in length, with the capacity to transport 34,320 tons all at once. The network will enable the use of surveillance cameras to monitor the locomotives in real-time, increasing safety and preventing accidents. With more agile monitoring and automation of security systems, risks will be mitigated (eg. while bringing the train to a stop) and real-time maintenance of the 980km railroad will be improved and eased to workers (eg. diagnosis, the telemetry and a series of data for better decision-making). With continental dimensions, the project demanded a lot of adaptation including in logistics, and since the railroad crosses indigenous territories, conservation areas cannot be affected. The installations were carried out with a perspective of not only protecting the environment but also making the least possible interference with existing operations. Links About VALE Telefonica Transformation Handbooks | Infrastructure, Digital services | Energy | Vivo (Telefonica Brazil) | Vale S.A | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Mtn Uganda Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit (Mistt) Pilot To become active participants in the digital economy and reap the full socio-economic benefits of mobile, people need to not only understand the relevance of mobile Internet in their own lives, but also have the necessary digital skills to seize the opportunities. To tackle the digital skills challenge, the GSMA developed the Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit (MISTT). Free to access, the toolkit provides basic training on how to use some of the most popular apps, how data consumption works, and how to control data costs and stay safe online. MTN Uganda piloted a mobile-related digital skills training programme as part of MTN’s Data Smart programme. The pilot was conducted between April and December 2019 in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, and aimed at increasing mobile Internet use among customers living in an urban area. The training focused on teaching customers to use apps that are common in Uganda, as well as building general mobile phone skills. Impact For every customer trained during the pilot, an estimated 1.1 others benefited directly with some new knowledge and skills. This means that digital skills training of this kind has the potential to more than double its reach and achieve scale. MTN asked customers who received the training how many people they had shared their skills with and used modelling to factor for over-claim. This provided a more conservative estimate of the digital skills multiplier effect. Most learners reported that they had showed several friends or family members how to perform new tasks using mobile Internet. Customers tended to acquire and share the skills that were most compelling and of greatest interest to them, such as communicating with others for work or making social connections. Links About Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit | Skilling, Digital services | Education and research | GSMA | MTN Uganda GSMA | Africa |
| Smart Irrigation Management: Benefits Of Agrotech Solutions On Farms Frutas Mifra farm is a SME that grows cherries in the Codos region (Spain), selling to countries like France, Germany and Abu Dhabi, countries with high quality and traceability standards. The Frutas Mifra cultivation area is more than 65 hectares in size with steep slopes and difficult access areas, making the control of the irrigation system a complex and inefficient task and requiring precise control of the amount of water reaching each tree. To improve farming, the project installed a smart irrigation management system that allows monitoring the health of crops anywhere, at any time. By combining devices from Spherag with Telefonica Tech’s NB-IoT connectivity, each irrigation valve can be programmed to open and close according to the needs of each crop, as measured by climate and soil sensors. IoT devices make it possible to deploy telemetry and remote-control solutions for smart irrigation management. This technology and connectivity enables the farm to optimise its use of water and fertilisers, reducing costs and improving farm management, connecting farmers to data. Impact The main benefits of the digitalisation of the farm with the smart irrigation solution are the following: Reducing water consumption by 30% over the course of one growing season, optimising water management based on the knowledge of needs, crop water stress or soil parameters and scheduling irrigation, improved sustainability not only on water use, but by reducing carbon footprint on transport along the farm, and reducing fertiliser use by 25% over the course of one season, saving costs and increasing productivity by making more efficient use of water and fertilisers resources, optimising time in farm management through remote control of cloud platform, allowing more time to be spent on other important tasks and management work at the farm, anticipating the risk of leaks and acting immediately in the event of breakages or leaks. Digitalising the farm has been a real game changer for Mifra. Links About Mifra Mifra: a clear example of the advantages of AgroTech Technology for Smart Agriculture (AI of Things, Telefonica Tech) | Digital services, Infrastructure | Agriculture, Telecomms, ICT | Frutas Mifra | Spherag, Telefonica Tech | Europe |
| Sage Case Study In collaboration with Smart Data Foundry and The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), Sage has launched its Small Business Tracker. The Tracker analyses anonymized data of small businesses across the UK to look at how they are performing in real terms in the current economic climate. The insights that span across key themes like profitability, resilience, productivity are published quarterly and enable UK policymakers to develop more targeted and data driven economic policy for SMEs. About the data - the Tracker analyses anonymised Sage Accounting and Payroll data of between 85,000 - 120,000 small businesses from all regions across the UK, including Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales with annual revenue of between £0 – £200,000+. | Digital services | Information technology | Sage | Smart Data Foundry, The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) | United Kingdom |
