In Zambia, the digital divide tells a broader story of exclusion. National networks continue to grow, but communities outside urban centers are often left at the margins of digital society and the modern economy. Women, young people, and older generations frequently feel this disconnect most acutely.

Over the past four years, the United Volunteering Platform has operated at a global scale, responding to continuous demand, evolving requirements, and operational challenges. Through it all, the platform has remained steady—adapting, improving, and growing stronger with every upgrade and every piece of feedback. 

“The first of January 1983 is the internet’s birthday. At that time, Antigua and Barbuda, where I call home, had only been independent for a little over a year. Many Small Island Developing States (SIDS), due to our small country size, population, and our separation by water, struggled to develop economically and therefore transform digitally. On the other hand, countries with economies of scale, developed infrastructure and high capital were able to transform at a rapid pace and at a lower cost.

March 2025 — Igniting change through youth

Then came a pivotal moment. The United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Information and Technology Management team visited UNV headquarters in Bonn and offered a candid assessment: our systems were due for a significant upgrade. UNV responded with determination. It was an opportunity to review our systems and think of solutions.We didn't just patch up things. We rethought everything.Physical servers? Slashed from 7 to 2.Virtual machines? Down from 47 to 9.Legacy systems that translated web addresses? Gone. Replaced by Cloud-based platforms.

Noemi started volunteering at a very young age. At 14, she was already raising awareness of gender equality. “The personal reward of seeing change in people has always driven me,” says Noemi, an economist now. 

I am a Doctor of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences by vocation, although my educational background is diverse, ranging from completing the Institute for Digital Media in Dublin to earning a master's degree in health management, pedagogy, political ecology, and more. I am quite specific and like to combine different tools, knowledge, and experiences to achieve my goals.

Digital technology is more than just a tool; it’s a lifeline, a bridge to a future with no boundaries, only limitless possibilities.

Nesrine Kammourieh is a Digital Communications Associate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Lebanon. She manages the organization's social media accounts, creates impactful content and manages the digital campaigns. She also monitors the performance of various digital platforms. 

To have A-I-ready data is already a very successful differentiator for organizations over the last few years.Being able to use large amounts of data and provide visually appealing reports and dashboards helps fact-based decision-making and brings transparency, visibility and strategic, tactical and operational benefits.The reports and the dashboards are the visible tip of the data iceberg.