UNHCR and ITU receive global mobile industry award for Connectivity for Refugees initiative

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and ITU, the UN agency for digital technologies, are honoured to receive the Chairman’s Award at the Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards for their joint flagship initiative, Connectivity for Refugees, supporting access to meaningful, affordable, and reliable connectivity for people forced to flee and their host communities.

Recognized as the mobile industry’s most prestigious accolades, the GLOMO Awards celebrate innovation and societal impact across the global digital ecosystem. This year’s distinction, titled “Keeping the World Connected in Crisis,” was presented to Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, and Kelly T. Clements, UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner.

Connectivity for Refugees seeks to connect 20 million refugees and host-community members by 2030, addressing critical barriers such as affordability, infrastructure gaps, digital literacy, and enabling regulatory environments. By mid 2026, the initiative will have reached over 1 million forcibly displaced people and their hosts across more than 15 countries, with rapid expansion underway despite funding challenges.

Since 2023, UNHCR and ITU have been working closely with governments, private sector partners, and local communities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas to empower refugee and host populations with access to information, education, livelihoods, and essential services.

“When we work together to help refugees access digital lifelines, pathways to dignity and hope emerge,” said Bogdan-Martin. “This recognition underscores the power of collaboration in ensuring forcibly displaced people and their host communities are not left behind.”

“Connectivity is a lifeline, not a luxury. For millions of refugees and displaced communities, a mobile signal isn’t just about a phone call – it can be the difference between life and death, dependency and self‑reliance,” said Clements when receiving the award. “We are extremely grateful for this recognition that highlights the transformative impact connectivity has in displacement settings, fostering resilience, dignity and inclusion.”