There is growing awareness that connectivity is foundational to the global development agenda. But despite momentum for universal internet access, more than half the global population has never accessed the internet.
As the internet becomes ever more central to the lives of those who have access to it, those who do not are falling further behind, argue the authors of a new report called “Connecting the Next Four Billion.” With the digital divide increasingly becoming a development divide, major development players are now examining ways to narrow the gap and boost access.
The report — conducted by SSG Advisors with support from the Digital Impact Alliance and the U.S. Agency for International Development — outlines the barriers to access, maps the efforts to get people online, and identifies opportunities for collective action. The research resulted in three clear recommendations to catalyze universal access: mainstreaming access across the development agenda; amplifying innovative business models; and developing consistency in approaches to digital access.
About the author
Catherine Cheneycatherinecheney
Catherine Cheney is the Senior Editor for Special Coverage at Devex. She leads the editorial vision of Devex’s news events and editorial coverage of key moments on the global development calendar. Catherine joined Devex as a reporter, focusing on technology and innovation in making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to joining Devex, Catherine earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University, and worked as a web producer for POLITICO, a reporter for World Politics Review, and special projects editor at NationSwell. She has reported domestically and internationally for outlets including The Atlantic and the Washington Post. Catherine also works for the Solutions Journalism Network, a non profit organization that supports journalists and news organizations to report on responses to problems.
