World Refugee Day: Connecting the forcibly displaced, step by step

This World Refugee Day, I’ve been reflecting on the crucial role of connectivity in leaving no one behind. 

On a visit to the Farchana refugee camp in Chad last year, I saw it with my own eyes. 

Meaningful access to the Internet is a lifeline for refugees and their host communities, because it unlocks critical information, education, healthcare, and opportunities for social and economic inclusion.

This is why, together with our founding partners UNHCR and GSMA, and with the support of the Government of Luxembourg, ITU launched the Connectivity for Refugees initiative: to advance inclusive, sustainable connectivity for forcibly displaced people and the communities that host them. 

The first step in connecting refugees starts with a clear understanding of where gaps exist, and building the evidence needed to act on them. 

Building the evidence base

Too often, connectivity decisions in displacement settings rely on anecdotal information. But expanding connectivity requires robust data that governments, operators and partners can use to assess needs, identify opportunities and make informed investments. 

To understand the connectivity landscape in displacement settings, ITU and partners use a combination of mapping and assessment tools. By layering complementary tools and methodologies that together paint a complete picture, we enable governments, operators, and humanitarian partners to act on local challenges. 

For example, GSMA’s network coverage maps show the geographic footprint of mobile networks across a given area, giving a macro-level view of where infrastructure exists — or is absent. The ITU Disaster Connectivity Map (DCM) uses crowdsourced data to provide near-real-time insights into network availability, helping identify connectivity disruptions and gaps in real time. 

The Ericsson Response field test equipment collects data on signal strength and quality across camp areas, with field teams driving and walking around refugee camps to measure mobile network coverage and performance. Unlike standard coverage maps, which show whether a network exists in a given area, it captures how well that network actually performs — revealing gaps in quality, in addition to coverage.

These assessments are complemented by user survey data. To gain a deeper understanding of how displaced people experience connectivity, UNHCR interviewed affected populations using the GSMA Connectivity, Needs and Usage Assessment (CoNUA) toolkit. The results provide better insights into connectivity challenges, user needs, and usage patterns in displacement settings.

Together, these tools are more than the sum of their parts — and enable the partners driving this initiative to move from data to decisions.

From evidence to action in Rwanda

Home to more than 137,000 refugees, Rwanda has a strong national connectivity profile: 98% of the population is covered by 4G networks and mobile phone ownership is high across both refugee and host communities. 

However, assessments deployed in 2025 revealed a more complex picture: while 77% of displaced people reported having mobile coverage at home, speeds within refugee camps averaged 22 Mbps —below Rwanda's national average of 27 Mbps, with three camps materially underserved. This is critical information that guides mobile network operators in terms of commitment and network enhancements. More tellingly, 57% of refugees reported using the Internet less than they would like. Coverage exists on paper; meaningful connectivity does not always follow.

The findings also revealed a striking opportunity: nearly one in five people surveyed had already done paid digital work in the past year — with refugees participating at a higher rate than host community members. 

This is precisely why evidence matters. It tells us not just where gaps exist, but where investment can make the greatest difference — for refugees, for host communities, and for Rwanda's own digital transformation agenda.

Connectivity as solidarity

On World Refugee Day, ITU is proud to work alongside UNHCR, GSMA, the Government of Luxembourg, and a growing community of partners to improve the lives and livelihoods of displaced people. 

Connectivity is a lifeline, not a luxury. It is a prerequisite for protection, dignity, and opportunity.

ITU will continue to bring our technical expertise, convening power, and partnerships to this work — because our mandate is to ensure that the benefits of digital reach everyone, everywhere, including the world's most vulnerable communities.