Connectivity Cast: EP#1 with Naza Alakija: Are Girls Included in the Connectivity Conversation?

Connectivity Cast: EP#1 with Naza Alakija: Are Girls Included in the Connectivity Conversation?

In the inaugural episode of Connectivity Cast, we welcome Naza Alakija, founder of the Evoca Foundation, whose work spans climate action, education, and gender equality from Afghanistan to Nigeria to Rwanda. It features an engaging, frank, and open conversation hosted by Christopher Fabian, UNICEF Digital Inclusion Lead and Giga Co-Lead. Together, Christopher and Naza connect her work to a broader global challenge: girls’ access to the internet, safe connectivity, and the urgent need to ensure that girls are not left behind in the digital future.

Bits&Bytes: Where art meets humanitarian action: the UNICEF Giga Photo Award

In this episode, we explore where art and humanitarian work meet through the UNICEF Giga Photo Award. Joined by Daniel Ginsianmung, we talk about how photography can help tell stories about digital connectivity in ways that data and policy alone often cannot. The conversation looks at why youth and emerging photographers from the global south are central to this work, and how visual storytelling can translate complex issues such as access, inequality, and urgency into something deeply human. From everyday moments of connection to the realities of being offline, this episode reflects on the power of images as an advocacy tool, and on the importance of giving young photographers the space to tell their own stories.

Working through chaos in Haiti

In this episode of Bits&Bytes, Junior Alexander, UNICEF’s Head of ICT in Haiti, reflects on his work keeping vital digital systems running in one of the most challenging contexts in the world. He shares how connectivity, satellite links, and solar‑powered solutions help sustain essential services for children despite violence, instability, and widespread outages. Junior speaks openly about the emotional impact of witnessing the crisis up close, the resilience of communities, and why supporting children gives his work purpose. A story of dedication, urgency, and hope in the middle of Haiti’s ongoing emergency.

Child rights in the age of AI

How will artificial intelligence shape the lives of the children who are growing up with it? In this episode, we speak with Henrietta Ridley, UNICEF’s first Chief of AI, about what it really means to build a child‑centric digital future at a time when technology is moving faster than policy, ethics, and even public understanding. Henrietta unpacks the big questions: How do we ensure AI serves every child, not just those represented in today’s datasets? What risks and opportunities does AI bring to childhood, privacy, learning, and identity? How can UNICEF make sure children’s voices are heard by tech companies and governments shaping the systems they’ll grow up using? From global equity and language gaps to data rights and ethical dilemmas, this is a clear, grounded conversation about using AI responsibly, thoughtfully, and for the benefit of the next generation. This episode is for anyone working at the intersection of technology, rights, and the future of childhood.

Breathing data: how Laos’ schools are mapping air pollution

When seasonal haze turns dangerous, UNICEF’s Air for Tomorrow project brings open‑source sensors and connectivity to schools across Laos, turning “we can feel it” into actionable data that protects children and communities.