Mobile’s impact on the SDGs in the Middle East and North Africa
The increasing migration to mobile broadband services is supporting the mobile industry’s contribution to the SDGs. 4G now accounts for almost half of total mobile connections in the region. Meanwhile, the transition to 5G is gaining traction, led by the GCC member states. Improvements in network quality are paving the way for users to access a broader range of services. Mobile operators are active in providing new services in areas such as healthcare, education and fintech.
Mobile operators are also playing an increasingly prominent role in the rapidly expanding IoT ecosystem in MENA. IoT applications are often focused on smart city solutions, as governments aim to improve the quality of urban living and the environmental impact of cities. This is supporting the industry’s contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13: Climate Action. Further, deployments in smart utilities are starting to build traction, driven by smart meter installations, which should boost mobile’s contribution to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy in the run-up to 2030.
No Data Found
Source: GSMA Intelligence
Key drivers of SDG mobile impact scores
Loading..........
The Data is Not Available
Source: GSMA Intelligence
Loading..........
The Data is Not Available
Source: GSMA Intelligence
Data is sourced from the GSMA Intelligence Consumers in Focus Survey. The number of users is calculated by multiplying unique mobile subscribers by the percentage of survey respondents that performed a particular activity (e.g. reading the news) on a mobile phone. Unique subscriber data is sourced from GSMA Intelligence, combining data reported by mobile operators with the annual GSMA Intelligence Consumers in Focus Survey. The percentages show the proportion of mobile users engaging in a particular activity.
Case Studies
Case Study
Huawei and Unesco aim to improve access to digital education services in Africa
The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted education systems globally, intensifying existing educational challenges and inequalities. For instance, the lack of access to connectivity and devices hindered the ability of at least one third of students to engage in remote learning.[17]
Huawei and Unesco are collaborating with the education ministries of Egypt, Ethiopia and Ghana, along with other stakeholders, to implement a three-year project (2020–2023) focused on developing technology-enabled open school systems.[18] This initiative aims to create resilient and accessible school systems, enabling comprehensive education in both normal situations and times of crisis.
By 2024, the aim is to develop more than 140 digital courses that benefit over 40 schools and over 14,000 students and teachers.
Zain launches Women in Tech programme
While globally there are more women attending and graduating university than men, women are less likely to major in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and only 28% of female students pursue careers in the ICT sector compared to 72% of male students.[25]
Following the successful launch and completion of a pilot programme in 2021, Zain Group launched the Women in Tech initiative. This programme connects girls studying STEM degrees with experienced mentors working at Zain. Through successful mentor-mentee pairings, the programme aims to cultivate a new generation of innovators, allowing them to enter the telecoms industry with confidence.
Based on the pilot programme, where Zain aimed to mentor five women per operating group, Zain recognised the overwhelming demand for mentorship opportunities. As a result, the Women in Tech initiative was expanded significantly, with a target of mentoring 100 women per operating group. In 2022, Zain KSA and Zain Jordan successfully reached 100 mentees each, while Zain Iraq and Zain Sudan have mentored 115 and 69 women, respectively.
Turkcell launches Recycle into Education initiative
Because of rapid technological advancements and the accompanying changes to customer behaviours, device lifecycles have shortened, resulting in greater production and waste. Therefore, there is a greater need than ever before to reduce resource use and to move to more sustainable business models.
As part of its Recycle into Education project, Turkcell retail outlets provide recycling boxes for unusable mobile phones, computers, tablets and accessories. These collected items are then sent for recycling in collaboration with the Turkish Informatics Industry Association. The proceeds generated from recycling are then donated to the Education Volunteers Foundation of Turkey to support the provision of high-quality education for children.
Since its inception in November 2019, Turkcell has contributed 29.4 metric tons of e-waste to this project, resulting in the education of 382 children through donated funds. Through e-waste recycling, Turkcell helps to conserve natural resources by reusing precious metals found in electronic products. By utilising the proceeds from recycling to enhance the quality of education, Turkcell further encourages recycling efforts.
STC empowers NGOs through its technical enablement programme
NGOs play a vital role in society by empowering vulnerable populations and contributing to positive change through their expertise, resources and advocacy efforts. They act as a crucial link between marginalised people, governments and other stakeholders. However, a lack of access to digital tools and resources limits NGOs’ ability to optimise their operations and cut cost while maximising their sustainable and social impact.
In July 2021, STC launched its technical enablement programme as part of its commitment to enriching lives, enhancing experiences and expanding digital opportunities. The primary objective of the programme is to empower NGOs by digitising their administrative, financial and operational workflows, which are typically costly endeavours. In total, STC’s technical enablement programme provides 11 main digital solutions to NGOs.
Since the programme's launch, it has successfully served 546 NGOs, delivering 1,487 solutions across 56 main cities in Saudi Arabia, with over 35,000 beneficiaries. It has helped to increase the operational efficiency of NGOs and enable them to implement digital solutions without incurring any financial cost. The technical enablement program exemplifies how technology can be harnessed to address global challenges and support the achievement of the SDGs.
