Digital development strategy aims to help close the technological
divide for low-income countries
Women and girls will be protected from online harms
The strategy will help improve connectivity and bring down the
barriers to entry for AI innovators in developing countries
A new UK digital development strategy published today (Monday 18
March) sets out how the UK will lead the way and partner with
countries around the globe, so no-one is left behind in a digital
world.
Digital technologies can support development, for example, mobile
money and financial technology have had a huge impact by
including people around the world in the digital economy.
Likewise Artificial Intelligence has the potential to boost
health research and reduce the cost of drug development.
However, there are 2.6 billion people globally without internet,
including 65% of homes in poorer countries. There is also a stark
gender divide, with women about 20% less likely than men to
access the internet on a mobile phone.
The UK’s new strategy, launched by Development Minister today, will support
countries to maximise the opportunities and minimise the risks of
a rapidly changing digital world.
Development Minister said:
Digital technologies are central to our daily lives but currently
a lot of countries are missing out on the opportunities they
provide.
Our new Digital Development Strategy will promote affordable
connectivity, harness the potential of AI for development and
help tackle online violence against women and girls.
The strategy is focused on four priority areas in digital
development:
- Last-mile connectivity – Promoting basic connectivity in
remote, low-income areas. By 2030 the UK will have supported at
least 20 partner countries to halve the gap between people who
have connectivity and people who do not, for example by
facilitating regulatory reforms and building capacity of local
organisations.
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) – DPI is the technical
term for society-wide digital services, such as e-government and
national payment systems. By 2030 the UK will have supported at
least 20 partner countries to bring in national digital services.
- Artificial Intelligence – The rapid evolution of AI presents
both opportunities and risks, especially for developing countries
that risk being left behind due to their weaker digital
foundations. By 2030 the UK will have created or scaled up at
least eight AI research labs at African universities and helped
create regulatory frameworks for responsible AI.
- Women & Girls – The gender divide limits women and girls’
ability to benefit from digital technology. By 2030 the UK will
have supported at least 50 million women and girls to participate
safely and meaningfully in the digital world by providing online
safety advice and digital training.
Publication of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s
first digital development strategy follows the UK’s White Paper
on International Development, published last year, which
demonstrated the need to make digital transformation inclusive,
responsible and sustainable.
Notes to editors:
