An innovative approach to connect every school in the world to the internet is now being repurposed for health clinics.
Since 2019, Project Connect has mapped the location of 2.1 million schools globally, as well as the internet connection and network quality of more than 330,000 schools. The goal is to highlight connectivity gaps so that governments have the information they need to get more schools online, often by bringing in outside investment. The data it collects underpins Giga, a joint initiative of UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency focused on expanding access to information and communication technology.
Now, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is using the same technology and strategy to map and connect tens of thousands of health facilities across the African continent — with the hope of attracting investment.
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.
