Africa | Blog | blog | ClimateTech | Digital Utilities | East Asia and Pacific | South Asia
This week the GSMA announced the launch of the GSMA Innovation Fund for Digital Urban Services funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Urban services such as plastics and waste management, energy, water, and sanitation are essential to well-being and the creation of more circular economies. While the historic rise in mobile connectivity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has helped drive social impact and contribute to economic growth, billions of people still lack access to these basic services. The rapid expansion of urban centres and informal settlements across Africa and Asia, where 90 per cent of global urban growth from now until 2050 will be concentrated, is generally not accompanied by inclusive growth, which means that water shortages, unsanitary conditions, unreliable power provision and inadequate waste management could remain a defining reality for many. Climate change is intensifying these challenges and creating an urgent need for cities to build their resilience to climate shocks and address future climate risks and vulnerabilities.