The money will be spent on local initiatives in 13 European countries and Turkey, over five years.
Vodafone is to invest €20 million via the Vodafone Foundation to expand digital skills and education programmes through funding initiatives in Albania, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, and the UK.
This investment will be spread over five years and is expected to reach at least 16 million learners by 2025.
The Foundation uses a Lives Improved methodology to assess its public benefit, which is annually assured by Dalberg.
Being digital
The programmes, delivered in partnership with charities and NGOs, will enable people to develop their knowledge and skills in using digital technologies. The goal to reach millions of primary and secondary learners (picture shows School in a Box in use in Romania), those who are not in education, employment or training, and older people.
Nick Read, CEO Vodafone Group said: “We remain committed, in an ever increasingly digital world, to building inclusive digital societies where nobody is left behind, which matters now more than ever as society aims to build back better following the impact of COVID-19.”
This €20 million is in addition to the estimated €150 million of in-kind donations from Vodafone Group to a range of COVID-19-related initiatives, and a €10 million investment from Vodafone Foundation in the emergency phase of the COVID-19 response in 2020.