Digital inclusion is at the heart of our sustainability strategy and is one of the most powerful levers we have to transform lives and support the communities and economies in which we work.

To drive digital inclusion, we need to make digital services more accessible – both through the expansion of our 4G and 5G networks, and through encouraging the availability and use of smartphones across our 14 markets. We also need to ensure owning and using a smartphone is affordable – which is why we work with manufacturers and handset financing companies on programmes that bring smartphones within reach of customers, and make sure our own data products are consistently good value.

These themes have come together this year in an extraordinary programme in Rwanda, where in October 2023 we partnered with the Rwandan government to launch the ConnectRwanda 2.0 initiative. The programme aims to accelerate Rwanda’s digital capability by providing more than a million people in the country with high-speed, cutting-edge LTE smartphones by the end of 2024 – supported by a generous contribution by Reed Hastings, the co-founder and Chairman of Netflix.

The affordable smartphones, distributed with Airtel Africa SIM cards and tailored data packages, will be available at a price of 20,000 Rwandan francs ($16.5), with a monthly fee of 1,000 Rwandan francs ($0.8). In addition to the smartphone, subscribers will also enjoy 1GB of data daily and unlimited calls to any network in Rwanda. The initiative is already having a transformational impact. Since launch, smartphone penetration in Rwanda has increased from 21% to 34%, and we intend that the benefits will cross generations, as the initiative joins up with the work we’re doing in Rwanda with the government and UNICEF to support teachers and schools.

In March 2024, Airtel Tanzania has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tanzanian Government to launch the Airtel SmartWasomi schools’ connectivity project. This project aims to break down barriers hindering children's access to quality education. We are committed to ensure that every child's right to education is fulfilled, with a vision to revolutionise education through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Dinesh Balsingh, Managing Director of Airtel Tanzania, highlighted our mission to modernise classrooms by equipping them with Smart TVs and routers while providing high-speed internet connectivity. This initiative will empower teachers to deliver engaging lessons and enhance the learning experience for students. Prof. Carolyne Nombo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, emphasised the potential of Airtel SmartWasomi to ignite students' passion for learning – and, particularly, in schools grappling with resource deficiencies.

This project will bring digital content and advanced teaching tools to approximately 3,000 government schools over the next five years.

Our commitment to empowering women is exemplified by the Airtel Nigeria’s women network, a pioneering initiative designed to provide women with the support to realise their full potential. Airtel Nigeria’s women network builds an encouraging and enriching environment for women through regular engagements and mentorship programmes. Quarterly sessions provide a vibrant platform for the members to collaborate, contribute to the company’s culture and support each other. And the launch of executive roundtable discussions in 2023 introduced the members to aspirational industry leaders, supporting professional growth.

In July 2023, this holistic approach to empowerment has earned Airtel Nigeria’s women network the International Finance Corporation (IFC) award for outstanding initiatives in female empowerment and leadership. We continue to develop a supportive and inclusive environment as women’s success is integral to our corporate culture.

In response to the growing prevalence of mental health conditions, particularly with over 116 million people in Africa affected even before the Covid-19 pandemic, we recognise the need to address this issue through proactive measures.

Airtel Zambia rolled out a wellness programme "A better, healthier me" with the aim to foster a healthier and more dynamic work environment. This initiative empowers employees to actively manage their wellbeing both at work and in their personal lives, enhancing the overall employee experience and increasing productivity by minimising physical and mental health issues.

The eight-week programme is structured around social, financial, environmental, intellectual, physical, spiritual, occupational, emotional and mental wellbeing pillars and it has already yielded positive outcomes for Airtel Zambia. These include a notable reduction in employee hospital visits, an increase in a sense of professional wellbeing and job satisfaction reducing the chances of attrition. Recognising that engaged employees yield more impactful results, the programme aims to create an enjoyable work environment.

This initiative, which is now a permanent feature, has proven instrumental in cultivating teamwork among employees, emphasising its pivotal role in fostering a united and supportive workplace community.