EDISON Alliance Impact Report 2024

Executive summary EDISON Alliance accelerates efforts to advance digital inclusion through a unique global and multistakeholder platform. Executive summary Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EDISON Alliance was launched to offer a rapid, holistic and ecosystem-led response to the digitalization of basic life services. The alliance ignited a transformative movement, uniting a diverse community around a common and ambitious goal: the 1 Billion Lives Challenge. The goal of the challenge is to enhance the lives of 1 billion people by 2025 through affordable and accessible digital solutions in three areas: education, financial services, and healthcare. Many organizations were inspired to join the 1 Billion Lives Challenge with a commitment they would not have otherwise made and/or to demonstrate that universal digital inclusion is achievable through collaboration. As of January 2023, EDISON Alliance partners had positively impacted the lives of 454 million people around the world. Exactly one year later, 784 million people have been reached through 320 initiatives across 127 countries. With this many initiatives under way, EDISON partners are demonstrating a strong commitment to tangible action. Over the past 18 months, the alliance has focused its efforts on pioneering pathways, frameworks, tools and processes and offering a unique platform for partners to form new and innovative cross-sectoral partnerships and accelerate digital inclusion efforts. This report presents examples of such partnerships enabled by the alliance and their impact on marginalized populations and communities. Finally, whether it is through the Lighthouse Countries Network or the Digital Inclusion Navigator, this report outlines how EDISON Alliance enablers play a key role in amplifying partner efforts and facilitating best practice sharing and peer learning, leveraging the World Economic Forum’s digital platforms and convening power. 454 million people around the world had their lives positively impacted by EDISON Alliance partners as of January 2023 784 million people have been reached through 320 initiatives across 127 countries, exactly one year later 1billion people are targeted to have their lives enhanced by 2025 through affordable and accessible digital solutions, as per the goal of the challenge Contents EDISON Alliance Impact Report January 2024 4