Data reveals critical digital gap among refugees and host communities in Ethiopia, Government, UNHCR launch initiative to boost connectivity

ADDIS ABABA - To address the digital exclusion over 1.1 million refugees in Ethiopia face, the Government’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) and the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands have launched the Connectivity Needs and Usage Assessment (CoNUA) report on Thursday.

According to the report, refugees in Ethiopia still face significant barriers to connectivity, despite the country’s strides in digital transformation. While refugees have access to phones, less than 15% of them use the internet as much as they would like.

The report also highlights gender disparities in connectivity, with women 23% less likely to own a smartphone than men.

"In an era where connectivity defines opportunity, access to digital tools and networks is not a luxury but a lifeline," said Mulualem Desta, Deputy Director General of RRS. "This report provides critical evidence to guide our collective efforts to close the digital divide and ensure that refugees are included in the country’s digital transformation."

The assessment identifies cost as the single greatest restriction for refugees, with the high price of internet-enabled handsets and data serving as the primary barrier to connectivity. Beyond affordability, significant infrastructure gaps persist, leaving many refugee-hosting areas with little to no internet access or mobile coverage. These challenges are compounded by critical deficits in digital literacy, as a significant number of refugees lack the necessary skills to navigate the internet safely, raising concerns about online protection.

To address these issues, the Government of Ethiopia has established Refugee Connectivity and Digital Inclusion Working Group to serve as a national platform for strategic coordination. Co-convened by UNHCR and RRS, the Working Group, composed of a team of experts, aims to integrate refugees into Ethiopia’s national digital agenda and mobilize private sector and development actors to lower barriers.

"Connectivity has become an essential enabler of protection, inclusion, and resilience," said Ndeye Aissatou Masseck Ndiaye, UNHCR Representative to Ethiopia. "By investing in connectivity, we are empowering refugees and host communities to build self-reliance and contribute to national development."

The Working Group has set immediate priorities, including expanding network coverage in underserved refugee sites, developing programs to improve device affordability, and establishing connected community centres to facilitate digital learning and employment.

Ambassador Christine Pirenne of the Netherlands emphasized the partnership's value: "You all are here because you share our conviction that we must ensure refugees, and their gracious host communities are fully included in Ethiopia's digital future."

The Connectivity for Refugees Initiative is a multi-stakeholder pledge launched on the 2023 Global Refugee Forum by UNHCR, the GSM Association, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the Government of Luxembourg to advance connectivity for 20 million displaced people by 2030.

END

Find the full report here.

For more information, please contact:

• (UNHCR) Sona Dadi, [email protected], +251 932 459 640
• (UNHCR Innovation) [email protected]
• (RRS) Sileshi Demisew, [email protected],+251 912 023 969

RRS, the Ethiopian Government’s Refugees and Returnees Service is a government agency that continues its long-established commitment of protecting refugees in Ethiopia in a spirit of global solidarity in line with the fundamental principles of international refugee law, makes highly significant pledges to further improve the rights and services enjoyed by refugees in the country.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency protects people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We work in over 130 countries, protecting millions of people by responding with life-saving support, safeguarding fundamental human rights and helping them build a better future.

The GSM Association (GSMA) is a non-profit trade association that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide. More than 750 mobile operators are full GSMA members and a further 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem are associate members.

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible