Children across Africa are coming online faster than anywhere else in the world - but with this rapid connectivity surge comes heightened exposure to cyberbullying, harmful content, misinformation, and exploitation.

Recognising the urgent need for a coordinated, Africa-led response, the GSMA has partnered with UNICEF and a coalition of public, private, and civil-society organisations to launch the Africa Taskforce on Child Online Protection - the continent’s first dedicated, multi-stakeholder platform focused on placing children’s safety at the centre of Africa’s digital transformation.

Developing Telecoms spoke with Caroline Mbugua, Senior Director of Public Policy at GSMA Africa, to understand why the taskforce was created, how it differs from past efforts, and what it aims to deliver in its first two years. She explains how the initiative will support governments, operators, and digital platforms to embed safety-by-design, strengthen national frameworks, elevate youth voices, and ultimately build a safer, more inclusive digital ecosystem for Africa’s next generation.

Why did the GSMA partner with UNICEF and other organisations to launch the Africa Taskforce on Child Online Protection?

We have partnered with UNICEF and a broad coalition of stakeholders to establish the Africa Taskforce on Child Online Protection – the continent’s first dedicated, multi-stakeholder platform to enhance children’s safety, rights, and wellbeing in the digital world. The online space opens up a world of opportunities for children, from learning to entertainment, communication, etc. Children must be supported to navigate the online world safely and harness their opportunities. As children across Africa come online at one of the fastest rates worldwide, they face increasing risks – cyberbullying, misinformation, harmful content, exploitation – alongside unprecedented opportunities. With Africa’s mobile-first digital ecosystem, rapid technological progress, and a youthful population, the need for a locally led, African-driven response has never been more urgent.

Through shared expertise, capacity-building at national and regional levels, and youth-led voice and influence, we are dedicated to ensuring Africa’s digital transformation is safe, inclusive, and prioritises the best interests of every child.

How does this taskforce differ from previous efforts to safeguard children online in Africa?

This initiative marks the first continent-wide effort explicitly dedicated to child online protection in Africa. Previous approaches were often fragmented, confined to national initiatives or individual industry programmes. The Taskforce creates a unified platform that aligns the work of governments, the private sector, and civil society to move from strategy to coordinated implementation.

It builds on growing regional momentum, including the African Union’s Child Online Safety and Empowerment Strategy and the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child’s dedication of the 2023 ‘Day of the African Child’ to children’s rights in the digital environment. The Taskforce will enable stakeholders to collaborate more effectively and turn shared objectives and recommendations into tangible progress across the continent.

What are the biggest risks and challenges children face in Africa’s digital space today?

Children in Africa face various online risks, such as cyberbullying, harmful content, misinformation, and exploitation. Many lack digital literacy education or parental guidance, while legal protections differ widely across countries. The research finds that teens and frequent internet users are especially vulnerable, and parents and educators often lack resources to help. The Taskforce seeks to address these issues through collaboration, education, and improved policies.

How will the taskforce translate “safety by design” and “child-centred digital governance” into concrete actions for operators and technology companies?

The taskforce will help embed safety-by-design principles into policies, platforms, and services shaping Africa’s digital future. This involves encouraging companies and regulators to prioritise child protection from the earliest stages of technological development and policy creation.

It will foster closer collaboration between governments and industry to improve safety measures, strengthen digital governance, and ensure children’s needs and perspectives are incorporated into decision-making. Operators and platforms will be supported to implement measures such as enhanced content moderation, suitable age-verification mechanisms, and real-time reporting tools.

Given Africa’s diversity in infrastructure and regulation, how will the taskforce tailor its approach across different countries?

The Taskforce recognises Africa’s diversity in infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and cultural contexts. Its approach will combine regional coordination with local adaptation, guided by the African Union’s Child Online Safety and Empowerment Strategy. Each country will tailor policies and programmes to its unique social, economic and linguistic realities.

Frameworks and guidance will be adapted to local contexts, considering cultural, social, and economic factors specific to each nation. This flexibility ensures that protection measures are relevant, effective and sustainable across the continent.

What role will mobile operators and digital platforms play in implementing the taskforce’s objectives?

Mobile operators and technology companies are central to the Taskforce’s mission. They will work closely with governments and partners to strengthen child protection measures across digital networks and services. This includes implementing stronger safety features, improving content moderation and reporting tools, supporting helplines, promoting online safety education, and funding awareness campaigns.

Many operators are already showing leadership – through MTN Group’s Help Children Be Children programme, Safaricom and UNICEF’s Spot It, Stop It campaign, Airtel Africa’s partnership with UNICEF on digital learning access, and Orange’s For Good Connections initiative.

Through their reach and technical expertise, operators and digital platforms can make online spaces safer for children and provide parents and educators with the tools they need to protect young users. Strong public-private partnerships will enhance platform safety, bolster law-enforcement collaboration, and ensure consistent, continent-wide action.

How will the taskforce ensure that children and young people have a meaningful voice in shaping digital-safety policies?

Children and young people will play an active and ongoing role in shaping the taskforce's work. Young advocates who contributed to the development of the GSMA and UNICEF whitepaper, including Jemima Kasongo, a 19-year-old U-Reporter and Coordinator of the U-Report Community in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, will continue to participate in consultations and policy discussions. Their lived experiences and ideas will inform the development of safer online environments, ensuring that the measures adopted truly reflect the realities and needs of Africa’s youth.

What are the first milestones or deliverables the taskforce aims to achieve within the next 12 to 24 months?

In its first two years, the Taskforce will concentrate on establishing the foundations for coordinated regional action. This includes creating a roadmap to increase awareness and implement the African Union's Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy and the recommendations from the GSMA-UNICEF whitepaper, assisting governments in strengthening national frameworks for child online protection, and launching joint awareness and education programmes.

These programmes will prioritise integrating child online protection into school curricula, enhancing parents’ digital literacy, and encouraging open communication between parents and children. The Taskforce will also promote capacity-building initiatives, youth engagement, and improved data collection and research mechanisms – essential for tracking progress and shaping future policy decisions.

How will success be measured? What indicators will show real progress in child online protection?

Success will be measured by stronger collaboration between governments, industry, and civil society, the adoption of national and regional child protection frameworks, and greater access to safe digital tools and support services for children. Progress will also be reflected in higher levels of digital literacy among children and parents, increased awareness of online risks, and a measurable reduction in harmful online behaviours. Ultimately, success means ensuring that every child in Africa can explore and benefit from a digital world that is safe, inclusive and empowering.

Looking ahead, how do you envision Africa positioning itself as a global leader in child-focused digital safety and governance?

Africa has a unique opportunity to lead by example in creating a child-centred model of digital safety and governance. As Africa is mobile-first and connectivity is expanding rapidly, it is well-positioned to pioneer protection frameworks that evolve alongside technology while remaining rooted in local realities.

Through the Taskforce, the continent can unite governments, industry, civil society, and youth to demonstrate that digital progress and child protection are mutually reinforcing. Through collaboration, innovation, and inclusion, Africa can establish global best practices in safeguarding children’s rights online.