UNICEF launched its new Digital Education Strategy on 24 January in Helsinki, highlighting its collaboration with Finland and other global partners during the International Day of Education at Educa, Finland’s largest education and training event. The strategy aims to scale innovative, AI-enabled teaching and learning programs across 18 countries, building on UNICEF’s digital education experience in over 100 countries. Finland has renewed its partnership with UNICEF to advance learning innovation, research, and evidence generation, while public and private sector partners provide resources, including access to advanced AI tools and technologies.
The strategy’s first phase of funding will be implemented over three years in close coordination with governments, UN agencies, private sector entities, and civil society partners in countries including Benin, Brazil, India, Kenya, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sudan, Tanzania, and Ukraine. It is anchored by UNICEF’s Global Education team and supported through the organization’s new Centre of Excellence, including the Helsinki-based Global Learning Innovation Hub. The initiative emphasizes education as a driver of equity and sustainable development, equipping children and youth with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century while leveraging AI and digital learning to support the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNICEF’s Digital Education Strategy responds to the global learning crisis, where over a quarter of a billion children are out of school, and many others struggle with foundational reading and math skills. With traditional development assistance declining, an additional six million children could miss out on education by the end of 2026. The strategy emphasizes responsible use of AI and technology, global partnerships, and child-centered approaches to ensure every child can learn, grow, and thrive, while promoting equitable and inclusive access to quality education.
Designed to go “beyond digital as usual,” the strategy focuses on areas where EdTech delivers measurable value and addresses bottlenecks in national education systems. It challenges the one-size-fits-all approach by placing children and teachers at the center and strengthening government capacities to implement safe, sustainable, and inclusive digital education transformations. The strategy also prioritizes outcome-driven implementation, generating contextualized evidence to help countries embed and scale effective digital tools and services to meet national education goals.
