17:00 – 19:00        

Welcome Reception

Venue: Giga Connectivity Centre 
Campus. Biotech, 3rd Floor (B2-03) 

(Chem. des Mines 9, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland) 

Informal gathering for country delegations, international experts and ITU and UNICEF teams, During the reception, we will project the winning pictures from the first edition of the Giga Photo Contest.

Welcome Addresses by:

• Alex Wong, Senior Advisor, Strategic Engagement and Initiatives, Executive Office, and Giga Co-Lead, ITU
• Christopher Fabian, Giga Co-Lead, Office of Innovation, UNICEF

08:00 – 18:00

Campus Biotech Auditorium

08:00 – 18:30

Badging at Campus Biotech Building Main Entrance

Masters of Ceremonies 

• Nobuntu Ndlovu, Communications Manager, Giga, UNICEF 
• Yannick Heiniger, Partnerships Lead, Giga, ITU 

08:45 – 09:05

Welcome and Opening

Welcome Remarks by:

• Alex Wong, Senior Advisor, Strategic Engagement and Initiatives, Executive Office, and Giga Co-Lead, ITU 

Special Remarks by:

• Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, ITU
• Thomas Davin, Director, Office of Innovation, UNICEF represented by Christopher Fabian, Giga Co-Lead, Office of Innovation, UNICEF
• His Excellency Ambassador Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations and other Organizations in Geneva

09:05 – 09:30

Destination 2030: Giga Stocktaking Session
An update session on emerging issues  from the first edition of the Giga Connectivity Forum in 2024 and the journey ahead.

• Alex Wong, Senior Advisor, Strategic Engagement and Initiatives, Executive Office, and Giga Co-Lead, ITU
• Christopher Fabian, Giga Co-Lead, Office of Innovation, UNICEF
• Joined by the Giga Team Leads

09:30 – 09:45

Spotlight Talk with one of the most influential technologists, speaking at the AI4Good Summit

• Kate Kallot, Founder & CEO at Amini, an AI-based data infrastructure company based in Nairobi.

09:45 – 11:15

Country Approaches and Sharing of Experiences: Breakout Session

During the breakout sessions, countries engaged with Giga  will share highlights and key strategic learnings  from their respective school connectivity journeys.

Each country delegation will nominate a representative to present the summary of the country’s school connectivity journey, which will be followed by a brief Q&A and group discussion.

These sessions and discussions will be moderated by the ITU Regional Representative and the UNICEF Country Engagement team member.

Breakout Session I

Benin, Guinea, Mozambique, Niger, Sao Tome and Principe

Breakout Session II

Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania

Breakout Session III

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, OECS Secretariat

Breakout Session IV

Belize, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama

Breakout Session V

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan

9:45 – 11:15 

Breakout Session I: The Experiences From Africa (I) 
French and Portuguese Speaking Session 

With the participation of:

• Benin 
• Guinea
• Mozambique
• Niger
• Sao Tome and Principe

Co-Chaired by:

• Rouda AlAmir Ali, Programme Officer, ITU  
• Albert Ewodo Ekani, UNICEF Senegal Deputy Representative

9:45 – 11:15

Breakout Session II: The Experiences From Africa (II) 
English Speaking Session 

With the participation of: 

• Botswana
• Eswatini
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Namibia 
• South Africa
• Tanzania

Co-Chaired by:

• Mavis Maunganidze, Programme Officer, Regional Representative ITU  
• Christine, Muhigana, UNICEF South Africa Representative

9:45 – 11:15 

Breakout Session III: The Experiences From the Caribbean Countries Engaged With Giga 

With the participation of: 

• Antigua and Barbuda 
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• OECS Secretariat 

Co-Chaired by:

• Cleveland Thomas, Representative for the Caribbean, ITU 
• Maurice Beckles, Senior ICT Associate, UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area 

9:45 – 11:15 

Breakout Session IV: The Experiences From the Rest of America’s Countries Engaged With Giga 

With the participation of: 

• Belize
• Brazil 
• Dominican Republic 
• Honduras 
• Panama  

Co-Chaired by:

• Miguel Alcaine, Area Representative, Central America, ITU
• Natasha Mantock, Education Officer, UNICEF Belize

9:45 – 11:15 

Breakout Session V: The Experiences From the Asian & European Countries Engaged With Giga 

With the participation of: 

• Bosnia & Herzegovina 
• Cambodia 
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova 
• Mongolia
• Sri Lanka
• Uzbekistan 

Co-Chaired by:

• Isabella Rinaldi, Area Representative, Europe, ITU 
• Shannon Lindsey, Education Officer, UNICEF Cambodia

11:15 – 11:45

Coffee Break in the Foyer of the Auditorium

11:45 – 12:00

Spotlight Talk “Connecting Young People Worldwide with Project Earth”

• Professor Becky Parker, Director, Project Earth

12:00 – 12:30

Country Approaches and Sharing Experiences: Plenary consideration of key insights and learnings from each region

Summary reporting by the rapporteurs of each morning breakout group.

13:00 – 14:00

Networking Lunch in the Foyer of the Campus Biotech Auditorium

14:15 – 14:30

Spotlight Talk on “What Connectivity Means to Youth?”

• Doris Mwikali, Youth Leader from Kenya and UNESCO SDG4Youth Network Representative to the HLSC Sherpa Group (online)
• Efe Elmas, Master of Science’ Student in Responsible Management, University of Geneva

14:30 – 16:00

Country challenges in school connectivity: Breakout Session on Challenges experienced by countries and Priorities.

These sessions will allow countries engaged with Giga to discuss their challenges in the school connectivity journey, approaches to addressing these and priorities in school connectivity based on the Giga 4+1 pillars.

Each country will nominate a rapporteur who will present a summary of key outcomes, which is followed by a brief Q&A and discussion.

Breakout Session I

Challenges related to school Mapping

Breakout Session II

Challenges  related to infrastructure Modelling

Breakout Session III

Challenges related to Financing

Breakout Session IV

Challenges  related to Contracting

Breakout Session V

Challenges  related to Capacity Development

14:30 – 16:00

Breakout Session I: Challenges related to School Mapping

With the participation of:

• Belize
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Cambodia
• Dominican Republic
• Kenya
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Facilitators:

• Naroa Zurutuza, Co-Lead, Barcelona Giga Tech Center, UNICEF
• Michael Larson, Giga Mapping and Tech Program Coordinator, Barcelona Giga Tech Center, UNICEF

14:30 – 16:00

Breakout Session II: Challenges related to Infrastructure Modelling

 With the participation of:

• Belize
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Lesotho
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania

Facilitator:

• Sebastien Peytrignet,Project Officer, ITU

14:30 – 16:00

Breakout Session III: Challenges related to Financing

With the participation of:

• Belize
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Cambodia
• Dominica
• Namibia
• Sri Lanka

Facilitators:

• Elena Ogram, Finance Lead, Giga, UNICEF
• Lauren Bieniek, Giga Program Officer, Development Finance, ITU

14:30 – 16:00

Breakout Session IV: Challenges related to Contracting

With the participation of:

• Bostwana
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Mongolia
• OECS Commission
• St. Kitts and Nevis

Facilitators:

• Jaime Archundia, Procurement and Market Development Lead for Giga, UNICEF
• Genaro Cruz, Market Development, Giga, UNICEF

14:30 – 16:00

Breakout Session V: Challenges related to Capacity Development

With the participation of:

• Botswana
• Fiji
• São Tomé and Príncipe  
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• Uzbekistan
• Zimbabwe

Facilitators:

• Alex Högback, Senior Project Officer, ITU Academy, ITU
• Carolina Anselmino, Programme Officer, Giga, ITU

16:00 – 16:30

Coffee Break in the Foyer of Biotech Campus Auditorium

16:30 – 16:45

Spotlight Talk “Giga’s Impact on Learning Outcomes:  What Do the Data Say?“ 

• Christopher S. Yoo, Imasogie Professor in Law and Technology; Professor of Communication, Computer and Information Science and Founding Director, Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition at the University of Pennsylvania

16:45 – 17:15

Country Approaches and Sharing Experiences: Plenary consideration of Emerging Challenges from country experiences and Priorities

Rapporteurs of each breakout groups report back on the key takeaways in each group, including potential areas in which Giga support might be leveraged.

17:15 – 17:30

Tech Talk on facilitating School Connectivity through Standards 

• Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy to the Director and Chief of Telecommunication Standardization Policy Department, TSB, ITU

17:45

Participants are invited to walk from the Biotech Campus Auditorium to the Atrium of the Biotech Campus (on the building’s ground floor) to join the Official Reception and to take the official picture of the GCF 2025.

18:00 – 20:00

OFFICIAL GIGA RECEPTION
In the Atrium of the Campus Biotech
Venue: Chemin des Mines 9, 1202 Geneva

Networking event connecting global leaders and Geneva’s local technology ecosystem.

Masters of Ceremonies

• Alex Wong, Senior Advisor, Strategic Engagement and Initiatives, Executive Office, and Giga Co-Lead, ITU
• Christopher Fabian, Giga Co-Lead, Office of Innovation, UNICEF

Welcome addresses by:

• Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, ITU
• Bettina Junker, Executive Director of the National Committee for UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein
• His Excellency Ambassador Marcos Gómez Martínez, Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva
• Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU represented by Dr. Eun-Ju Kim, Chief of Projects, Partnerships and Digital Skills Department (PPS), ITU.

20:00

End of the Reception

07:30 – 12:30

Campus Biotech Auditorium

07:30 – 18:00

Badging at Campus Biotech Building Main Entrance

09:00 – 10:00

WSIS High-Level Ministerial Session: “The Digital Imperative: The Critical Role of School Connectivity”

Connectivity has become pivotal and therefore critical for the socio-economic development of every country and across all aspects of life. Its transformative impact on the education sector, in particular, cannot be overstated. Connectivity opens new pathways for students and teachers to access a world of information, fosters inclusive lifelong learning, drives socio-economic growth, and supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4.

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process identified the connection of universities, colleges, secondary, and primary schools to ICTs as a key priority in the 2003 Geneva Plan of Action. WSIS Action Line C2, focused on information and communication infrastructure, highlights the vital importance of connecting schools to achieve digital inclusion.

Despite this, the cost of connecting every school remains a major challenge, especially for governments in developing countries. High investment risks further complicate the issue, making school connectivity a less attractive undertaking for market players compared to other ventures.

This session will explore the future of school connectivity in the digital age, examining the challenges to achieving universal school connectivity from the perspectives of various stakeholders in national ecosystems—and identifying what is needed to catalyse and accelerate national efforts.

Introduced by

• Christopher Fabian, Giga Co-Lead, Office of Innovation, UNICEF

Opening Remarks by

• Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU

Panel Session with

• Kátia Helena Serafina Cruz Schweickardt, National Secretary for Basic Education, Ministry of Education of Brazil
• Ervin C. Williams, CEO, National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC), St. Kitts and Nevis
• Pilar Orero PhD (UMIST, UK), Professor at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) in the TransMedia Catalonia Lab.
• Basma Tawfik, National Telecommunications Regulatory Autoprity (Egypt)

Chaired by

• Irene Kaggwa, Giga Programme Manager, ITU

This session is part of the official programme of The World Summit on The Information Society (WSIS).

10:15 – 11:15

World Cafe with Help Desks on Mapping, Modelling, Financing, Contracting, and Capacity Development at the Giga Connectivity Centre

Country delegations will have the opportunity to ask more specific questions about Giga’s main areas of work in one-on-one sessions at the World Cafe.

11:30 – 18:00

Campus Biotech Auditorium

11:30 – 11:45

Spotlight Talk on “unconnected.org: A Proven, Scalable Model for Sustainable School Connectivity” 

• Mea Thompson, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Unconnected.org

Financing School Connectivity

Achieving universal school connectivity by 2030 will require bold public investment, catalytic private capital, and fit-for-purpose financial instruments. While many governments have outlined ambitious digital strategies, financing these at scale remains a systemic challenge—especially in frontier and underserved markets.This session convenes key public and financial actors to unpack how these challenges are being addressed in real time, through national efforts and global partnerships.

This two-part session explores the practical realities of financing school connectivity.

11:45 – 12:45

Mobilizing Capital for Connectivity I: Countries Financing Journeys

In Part I of this two-part session, government representatives from some of the countries engaged with Giga will share their journey to mobilize capital, including challenges and lessons learned.

Panel Session with

• Francis Karanja, Deputy Director of Education, Head of National ICT Innovation and Integration of Kenya,
• Cecilio Quaresma Sacramento, Technical Director of Water, Energy, Telecommunications, and Postal Services of São Tomé and Príncipe
• Ilich Valladares, Deputy Minister for Technical and Pedagogical Affairs, Ministry of Education of Honduras,
• Suada Hadzovic, Head of International Regulation Division, Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Chaired by

• Elena Ogram, Finance Lead, Giga, UNICEF

13:00 – 14:00

Networking Lunch in the Campus Biotech Cafeteria
Vouchers to be distributed as people leave the Auditorium.

14:15 – 15:15

Mobilizing Capital for Connectivity II: The Role of Multilateral Development Banks and Financial Partners 

Part II of this two-part session will feature speakers from the international finance and investment community for a conversation on financing school connectivity and the requisite infrastructure for connecting last mile communities, sharing how they evaluate digital infrastructure projects and collaborate with governments.

Panel Session with

• Frank Belitz, Manager, Sectors, Themes and Finance Solutions Department, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
• Syed Mohammad Shaharyar Jawaid, Senior ICT Specialist, Islamic Development Bank

Chaired by

• Lauren Bieniek, Giga Program Officer, Development Finance, ITU

Introduced by 

• Alex Wong, Senior Advisor, Strategic Engagement and Initiatives, Executive Office, and Giga Co-Lead, ITU

15:15 – 15:30

Coffee Break in the Foyer of Campus Biotech Auditorium

15:30 – 16:30

Next Steps:  Giga Action Plan

Five breakout groups on each of Giga’s main pillars of activity.

Breakout Session I

Next Steps in Mapping

Breakout Session II

Next Steps in Modelling

Breakout Session III

Next Steps in Finance

Breakout Session IV

Next Steps in Contracting

Breakout Session V

Next Steps in Capacity Development

15:30 – 16:30 

Breakout Session 1: Next Steps in Mapping 

Facilitators 

• Naroa Zurutuza, Co-Lead, Barcelona Giga Tech Center, UNICEF 
• Michael Larson, Giga Mapping and Tech Program Coordinator, Barcelona Giga Tech Center, UNICEF

15:30 – 16:30 

Breakout Session 2: Next Steps in Modelling 

Facilitators  

• Ihar Shchetko, Project Officer, ITU 

15:30 – 16:30 

Breakout Session 3: Next Steps in Finance 

Facilitators 

• Elena Ogram, Finance Lead, Giga, UNICEF  
• Lauren Bieniek, Giga Program Officer, Development Finance, ITU 

15:30 – 16:30 

Breakout Session 4: Next Steps in Contracting 

Facilitators 

• Jaime Archundia, Procurement and Market Development Lead for Giga, UNICEF 
• Genaro Cruz, Market Development, Giga, UNICEF

15:30 – 16:30 

Breakout Session 5: Next Steps in Capacity Development 

Facilitators 

• Alex Högback, Senior Project Officer, ITU Academy, ITU  
• Carolina Anselmino, Programme Officer, Giga, ITU

16:30 –16:45

Tech Talk on Satellite Connectivity in the World Today and the Future Outlook of the Industry

•  Alexandre Vallet, Chief of the Space Services Department, Radiocommunication Bureau, ITU

16:45 – 17:20

Giga Action Plan Plenary Summary of takeaways from breakout sessions followed by open plenary discussion towards developing a collective action plan.

Chaired by

• Nobuntu Ndlovu, Communications Manager, Giga, UNICEF
• Yannick Heiniger, Partnerships Lead, Giga, ITU

17:20 – 17:30

Giga Connectivity Forum Closing:

Destination 2030 – Actionable Commitments for Universal Connectivity

Identify priority outcomes and outline concrete next steps for stakeholders.

• Alex Wong, Senior Advisor, Strategic Engagement and Initiatives, Executive Office, and Giga Co-Lead, ITU
• Christopher Fabian, Giga Co-Lead, Office of Innovation, UNICEF 

17:30 

Final Group Official Picture of the GCF 2025

08:00 – 13:00

Campus Biotech Auditorium

08:00 – 13:00

Badging at Campus Biotech Building Main Entrance

09:00 – 12:00 

“The Clubhouse” at Giga Connectivity Centre

If you need a place to meet and work, consider the Centre your home.

09:o0 – 10:o0

Workshop on Connectivity Planning Platform (CPP) coordinated by ITU BDT and Ericsson

This session will provide an overview of the Connectivity Planning Platform, a toolkit planned for launch for ICT infrastructure infrastructure analysis and planning. The session will walk you through the platform’s architectural concepts and the entire workflow, from data submission, project creation, and project management to the calculation and visualization of results. It will also cover future plans.

• Ihar Shchetko, Project Officer, ITU
• Gonzalo Suardiaz, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Program Manager, Ericsson 

10:00 – 10:30

Coffee Break in the Connectivity Centre

11:00 – 12:00

Interactive Workshop on Mapping Tools coordinated by ITU BDT

This hands-on session will guide participants through practical exercises using open-source geospatial tools to support connectivity mapping and infrastructure planning. Based on real-world workflows from GIGA’s applied geospatial tools, the workshop is ideal for anyone working in digital development, education connectivity, or spatial data analysis.  Don’t miss this opportunity to build your skills and engage with experts driving data-driven decision-making for universal connectivity! 

•  Idir Benferhat, Data Scientist, ITU,
• Aleksandra Jastrzebska, Junior Mapping Expert, ITU

12:00 – 13:00

Light Giga Lunch at Giga Connectivity Centre

All participants are invited for a drink and snacks in thanks for everyone’s active participation in the Giga Connectivity Forum.