Kenyan National School of Community Networks. Photo: TandaNet
As the world approaches the WSIS+20 Review, marking 20 years since the World Summit on the Information Society first set out to build a people-centred, inclusive information society, one question looms larger than ever: how do we finally translate global commitments into real-world action that closes the persistent gaps in digital access, skills and opportunity?
Over the past two decades, the WSIS process has served as a valuable platform for dialogue, target setting and multistakeholder engagement. Yet the digital divide remains stubbornly entrenched. Connectivity gaps persist between regions and within countries. Millions lack the digital literacy to meaningfully participate in the digital economy. Local content ecosystems remain underdeveloped, and digital governance often excludes those most affected by its decisions.
At the heart of these challenges lies a common denominator: financing. Despite years of discussion, financing for digital equity and inclusion remains fragmented, under-resourced and poorly coordinated. Even when funding exists, it often flows in silos – toward isolated infrastructure projects rather than integrated strategies that combine connectivity with skills, content and governance capacity.
This is not a new concern. Financing was already on the agenda during the 2005 Tunis phase of WSIS, and as early as 2003 the UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on Financial Mechanisms (TFFM) offered recommendations on mobilising resources for the information society. Yet no concrete resolution or serious follow-through emerged. Nearly two decades later, the absence of a dedicated mechanism to coordinate and innovate in digital financing remains a glaring gap in the WSIS architecture.
The WSIS+20 Review offers a unique opportunity to change course. As ministers, UN agencies, civil society leaders and private sector actors gather to assess what has worked since 2003 – and what must change for the next decade – momentum is building for a mechanism that links financing directly to WSIS’s vision and ensures resources reach the communities that need them most.
A Task Force on Digital Financing (TF-DF), launched as a concrete outcome of WSIS+20, could fill this gap. Building on the Financing for Development Seville Commitment and firmly anchored in the WSIS+20 architecture, it would move the financing agenda beyond ad hoc initiatives toward a coordinated, accountable and inclusive platform capable of mobilising resources at scale, aligning them with digital equity priorities, and delivering measurable results.
A broader vision: From the digital divide to digital equity and inclusion
One of the lessons of the past 20 years is that bridging the “digital divide” cannot be reduced to simply laying cables or building cell towers. Connectivity is essential – but digital equity and inclusion require far more. People need affordable access, but also the skills, local content, governance frameworks and trust to use digital technologies safely and effectively.
This calls for a holistic financing approach that prioritises infrastructure deployment but is not limited to it. It must also fund digital literacy programmes, inclusive policy making, local innovation ecosystems, and the capacities of governments and communities to design and implement digital strategies that serve their own needs.
By explicitly adopting digital equity and inclusion as its frame of reference, the Task Force would ensure financing strategies reflect the full range of barriers that keep people offline or excluded from the digital economy – not only the lack of infrastructure, but also affordability gaps, skills deficits and weak local institutions.
Anchoring the Task Force in the WSIS+20 process
For the Task Force to succeed, it must be firmly embedded within the WSIS+20 review process. This would give it the political legitimacy, strategic direction and multistakeholder engagement needed to translate high-level commitments into practical action.
The Task Force could be co-chaired by a UN agency such as UNDP or UN DESA alongside a leading development bank, combining the convening power of the UN system with the financial expertise of international financial institutions, the innovative energy of private and philanthropic actors, and the on-the-ground knowledge of civil society organisations.
To ensure responsiveness to regional realities, the Task Force could establish regional hubs in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Arab world. These hubs would adapt financing strategies to local contexts rather than imposing one-size-fits-all solutions from afar. The action areas outlined in the FF4D Seville outcome document may be taken up by the Task Force.
Core functions and mandate
The Task Force would be guided by a clear, results-oriented mandate built around several core functions:
- Mapping and analysis: The first priority would be to map the existing digital financing landscape, analysing what has worked, where the gaps lie, and how funding flows can better align with both national digital strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals. This work could build on the recommendations of the UN’s 2025 Financing for Development Conference, ensuring coherence across UN processes.
- Innovative and blended financing mechanisms: The Task Force would develop new models for mobilising resources at scale. This could include reforms to universal service funds, the introduction of development bonds dedicated to digital equity, solidarity-based contributions such as the “one percent” Digital Solidarity Fund model, and even tax revenues sourced from global digital transactions and technology companies. Blended approaches – combining public finance, concessional loans, private capital and philanthropic contributions – would reduce reliance on any single funding stream and create sustainable, long-term financing pipelines.
- Accountability and transparency: To avoid becoming another symbolic body, the Task Force would embed accountability at every stage. Public dashboards could track financing commitments and project outcomes in real time, while independent evaluations aligned with WSIS+20 milestones would ensure the mechanism remains results-driven. Regular forums within the WSIS+20 process would give governments, donors, private sector actors and civil society opportunities to review progress, share lessons and adjust strategies as needed.
- Capacity building for the Global South: Financing alone is insufficient if countries lack the capacity to design bankable projects or absorb funding effectively. The Task Force would therefore support training programmes for local institutions, helping them translate financing opportunities into sustainable, inclusive digital ecosystems.
A diverse and balanced financing ecosystem
A central principle of the Task Force would be diversity in financing sources. No single donor group or funding model should dominate; instead, the Task Force would cultivate a balanced ecosystem:
- Traditional donors from the Global North could bring decades of experience in development finance and technical assistance.
- China and Arab states, already major players in infrastructure financing, could play a crucial role in scaling investments for connectivity.
- Regional development banks would contribute local knowledge, risk-mitigation tools, and convening power within their regions.
- Corporate foundations and philanthropic organisations could support innovation, training and last-mile connectivity projects often overlooked by commercial investors.
By pooling these diverse resources under a coordinated framework, the Task Force would create a resilient, scalable and inclusive financing model capable of meeting the multifaceted challenges of digital equity.
Konstantinos Komaitis is a Resident Senior Fellow for the Democracy and Technology Initiative at the Atlantic Council.
Valeria Betancour is APC's Global Governance Advocacy Lead Manager.
Anriette Esterhuysen is APC's Senior Adviser on Global and Regional Internet Governance.