The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the GSMA today signed a memorandum of understanding to mark a partnership bridging the digital divide for small businesses and entrepreneurs in developing countries. It builds on an earlier collaboration between the organizations as part of the UN Broadband Commission, where they co-chaired a working group on ‘Making Connectivity Work for MSMEs’ in 2023. This new partnership seeks to further unlock digital business and trade opportunities, particularly for the underserved: women, poor, young and refugees.

Despite the wide availability of digital networks, many communities do not use them yet. The vast majority of the unconnected live in developing countries and face barriers to leveraging digital connectivity, related to knowledge and digital skills, affordability (especially of devices), relevance, safety and security, as well as access.

ITC and the GSMA aim to address this challenge and help boost online activity and economic prospects for small businesses through initiatives that support digital entrepreneurship, digital skills training, as well as technical assistance for policymakers.