Estimates of internet access for children in Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania

Publication date: 11
Publication series:
Innocenti Research Briefs
No. of pages: 9
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Abstract
The
COVID-19 pandemic transformed internet connectivity from an important asset to
an essential piece of infrastructure. Yet two thirds of the world’s school-aged
children still have no fixed internet connection at home. This lack of
connectivity limits their ability to go online; prevents them from
participating and competing in the modern economy; and risks isolating them
from the world.
This research brief presents new data on children’s internet access in five countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. It provides estimates of the frequency with which children use the internet and assesses the most common barriers they face. Finally, it explores the potential consequences of leaving these bottlenecks unaddressed.