By Dr. Kivumbi Earnest Benjamin, L.H.D (Hon.)

Digital solutions, innovations, and investments spotlighted as UN marks 80th anniversary

NEW YORK (United Nations) – Global leaders from government, business, civil society, and youth movements came together at Digital at UNGA 2025 to showcase how technology can drive progress for people and the planet. The week-long series, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), featured an Anchor Event at UN Headquarters and more than 40 affiliate sessions across New York and online.

“My top takeaway from Digital at UNGA 2025 is the lasting power of digital to tackle our most urgent global challenges,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “The innovations we saw and the commitments made all converged towards a digital future that truly works for everyone.”

Marking the UN’s 80th anniversary, the event highlighted how cutting-edge technologies – from artificial intelligence (AI) to quantum computing – can accelerate sustainable development and transform lives worldwide.

“Every day we see how digital innovation can expand access to health care, education, and livelihoods,” said UNDP Acting Administrator Haoliang Xu. “But the story of digital is not about devices or algorithms. It is about people – ensuring technology connects rather than divides.”

Major Commitments on Connectivity and AI

According to the SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda (2023), over two-thirds of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could directly benefit from digital technologies. Building on this momentum, Microsoft announced a new USD 4 billion investment under its Elevate initiative, pledging to equip 20 million people with AI skills by 2027. The pledge was made through ITU’s Partner2Connect Digital Coalition (P2C), bringing total commitments under the platform to over USD 80 billion, edging closer to its USD 100 billion goal by 2026.

“AI presents a transformative opportunity to drive growth and progress, but only if its benefits are shared broadly and equitably,” said Lisa Monaco, Microsoft’s President of Global Affairs.

At the same event, ITU launched a new partnership with Google and musician-philanthropist will.i.am to deliver AI and robotics training in underserved African schools, in coordination with the ITU-UNICEF Giga initiative, which is working to connect every school to the internet.

Global Voices and Collaboration

Digital@UNGA 2025 also gave space to public voices through Digit’all Voices, an online campaign gathering perspectives from across generations and regions on how technology can advance inclusion and sustainability. Questions from the campaign were addressed live at the Anchor Event by leaders in government and industry, in a session moderated by Indian actor Prajakta Koli, UNDP’s Youth Climate Champion.

Affiliate sessions—organized by civil society, academia, industry, and international organizations—showcased digital solutions to close connectivity gaps, strengthen cooperation, and ensure no one is left behind in the digital age.

Supported by GSMA, Novartis Foundation, Vodafone (Lead Supporters), Lenovo (Supporter), and Amazon, Google, IDB, Microsoft, and ZTE (P2C Champions), Digital@UNGA 2025 built on more than two decades of UN-led digital cooperation, from the World Summit on the Information Society (2003–2005) to the Global Digital Compact (2024).