• MTN and UNHCR signed a multi-year agreement to expand telecom access for refugees.
• The program will begin in Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan.
• It aims to address barriers such as lack of ID, device costs, and weak network coverage.

MTN Group announced on March 3 it has signed a multi-year memorandum of understanding with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to expand digital connectivity for displaced populations across Africa.

The agreement calls for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure and access to mobile money services for refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities in countries where the telecom operator operates.

Addressing connectivity barriers for refugees

The initiative will first roll out in Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan. It aims to remove several barriers that often prevent displaced people from accessing digital services.

Among them are the lack of recognized identification documents required to obtain SIM cards, the high cost of mobile devices and data, and limited network coverage in areas hosting displaced populations.

According to UNHCR data, more than 20 million displaced people currently live in countries covered by MTN’s network.

Nompilo Morafo, MTN’s chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer, said the partnership reflects the company’s view that digital access is essential for inclusion.

She said connectivity should not be treated as a privilege but as a basic tool that supports dignity, protection, and economic participation. Morafo added that when people are forced to flee their homes, digital access becomes critical because it allows families to stay in contact, access assistance, and rebuild a degree of independence.

The agreement is part of the broader “Connectivity for Refugees” initiative, which brings together international organizations and private-sector companies.

Launched during the Global Refugee Forum in 2023, the initiative aims to connect 20 million displaced people by 2030.

The financial and operational terms of MTN’s partnership with UNHCR were not disclosed.

Adoni Conrad Quenum