Giga Connectivity Centre
Geneva
Switzerland
- Alex Högback
- Gustavo Fonseca Ribeiro
- Carolina Anselmino
Intermediate
Event Organizer(s)
Initiative
Description
Delivered through the ITU Academy’s Giga Learning Hub, the course equips procurement officials and decision-makers with the skills to design and manage sustainable and large-scale school connectivity projects. As part of the UNICEF–ITU Giga Initiative, the course aims to develop national capacity for connecting schools to the Internet in a way that meets sustainable and circular procurement goals. Developed for participants who already have a grounding in procurement, the programme focuses on school connectivity. It covers the full procurement cycle, including:
- Pre-contracting: Needs assessment, strategy development, market engagement, and risk analysis
- Contracting: Tender design, technical specifications, evaluation and award
- Post-contracting: Contract management, performance monitoring, and sustainability.
Through case studies, practical exercises, and hands-on use of procurement tools, participants will build confidence in applying sustainable procurement approaches at scale. The course emphasizes peer exchange and regional adaptation, enabling participants to learn from one another and the project Giga procurement team, while tailoring strategies to their own institutional and market contexts.
Procurement officers, ICT policy makers, education ministry officials, and stakeholders responsible for designing and delivering national school connectivity projects. Participants are expected to already have baseline knowledge and experience of public procurement.
Members of the above-mentioned target population are invited to apply for the training if they meet the following criteria:
- Experience with public procurement or digital infrastructure planning
- Proficiency in English
Selection criteria: Selection will be conducted by the course organizers, who will consider the above entry requirements along with an analysis of the application questionnaire and the recommendation/motivation letter of each applicant.
Number of available places for the cohort: 25-30
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Design procurement strategies for school connectivity that integrate sustainability and long-term value considerations
- Conduct needs assessments, analyze markets and engage suppliers to inform effective procurement strategies
- Develop and apply calls for tender tailored to scaled school connectivity projects
- Apply lifecycle costing methods and incorporate sustainability criteria into evaluation and award decisions
- Identify and manage procurement risks, with attention to rural and underserved contexts
- Implement post-contracting practices, including contract management and performance monitoring, to ensure sustainable outcomes
- Adapt procurement approaches to different regional and institutional contexts, including legal frameworks and market conditions
- Leverage the UNICEF-ITU Giga Initiative procurement resources more effectively by applying course knowledge in practice and learning what type of support Giga can offer for ongoing connectivity projects
The training makes use of an interactive, experiential approach that blends expert input with applied practice and peer-to-peer learning.
Delivery of key concepts and tools
- Instructor-led sessions will introduce core frameworks, procurement strategies, and tools.
- Demonstrations of practical instruments (e.g., lifecycle-costing calculators, risk assessment frameworks, evaluation scorecards) will provide participants with a clear foundation for hands-on use.
Interactivity and applied learning
- Problem-based learning activities will be used in groupwork, with teams solving realistic procurement challenges based on a fictional scenario they are presented with such as designing RFx templates, applying lifecycle costing, or developing monitoring KPIs.
- Real world case studies will be delivered in a STAR format: participants are presented with the Situation and Task, decide their own Action, and then compare it with the actual actions and result.
- Simulation exercises, where applicable, will allow participants to role-play procurement decision-making and test trade-offs.
- Gamification and play using interactive tools like Menti will make sessions engaging and participatory through quizzes, polls, and live challenges.
Knowledge reinforcement and reflection
- (Self-)reflection will be encouraged through guided prompts that help participants connect course learning to their institutional settings.
- Peer learning will take place through group discussions, regional breakouts, and plenary syntheses, enabling participants to exchange experiences across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Engagement with Project Giga support
- A thread throughout the workshop will highlight how participants can make informed and strategic use of Project Giga’s procurement resources and ongoing support.
- Participants will leave with draft outputs (e.g., adapted RFx templates, risk analyses, monitoring plans) that can be refined for real-world application in their countries.
Learning will be assessed through participation, groupwork, knowledge checks, and a final synthesis exercise, with emphasis on applying tools and strategies in practice rather than written exams. Attendance on all three days is mandatory to qualify for the certificate.
- Attendance and Participation (30%): Full attendance is required. Active contributions in discussions, exercises, and peer exchanges will be noted.
- Applied Groupwork (40%): Over the three days, teams will work on a fictional procurement scenario. On Day 1, they complete a needs assessment and risk analysis. On Day 2, they draft RFx sections and apply an evaluation framework. On Day 3, they design contract monitoring and KPIs. Outputs will be graded on completion, collaboration, relevance, and sustainability.
- Final Action Plan / Synthesis (30%): On Day 3, groups present or submit a short procurement strategy or action plan. This will be assessed on clarity, feasibility, sustainability, and relevance to school connectivity. Peer and facilitator feedback will be shared in plenary.
A total score of at least 70% is required to obtain the ITU certificate.
Day 1 – Tuesday, 2 December
Registration at Giga Connectivity Centre (08:30–09:00)
Participants arrive, complete registration, and prepare for the start of the course.
Welcome Remarks (09:00–09:30)
This session introduces Giga, the Giga Learning Hub, and the ITU Academy, and provides an opportunity to meet course coordinators. By the end, participants will understand the roles of Giga and the ITU Academy and will have met the team guiding the programme.
Session 1: Introduction to the Course (09:30–09:50)
Participants establish a shared starting point by learning about one another and the purpose of the training. By the end, participants will have shared their backgrounds and objectives and gained clarity on course expectations.
Session 2: Connectivity Lens & Sustainability Foundations (10:50–10:40)
The session presents a systems view of school connectivity and explores sustainability and circular procurement. By the end, participants will understand school connectivity as a system and recognize sustainability principles relevant to digital infrastructure.
Coffee Break (10:40–11:00)
Meet the Giga Procurement Team (11:00–11:30)
Participants learn about the types of procurement support Giga offers to governments. By the end, participants will understand Giga’s advisory services, tools, and products.
Session 3: Deep Dive into the Lifecycle of ICT Products and Services (11:30–12:30)
The session examines sustainability impacts across the ICT lifecycle and the role of procurement. By the end, participants will identify major sustainability impacts and understand how procurement decisions can address them.
Lunch at Campus Biotech Cafeteria (12:30–13:30)
Session 4: Models for Sourcing School Connectivity (13:30–15:00)
Participants analyze sourcing and procurement models and share experiences from their countries. By the end, participants will have mapped models used in their contexts and identified challenges and opportunities.
Coffee Break (15:00–15:15)
Session 5: Needs Assessment and Strategy Development (15:15–16:15)
This session covers methods to conduct needs assessments and align them with national strategies. By the end, participants will know how to perform a needs assessment and identify associated risks.
Daily Wrap-Up (16:15–16:30)
Participants consolidate key learnings and preview Day 2.
Giga Open House (16:30–17:30)
Participants explore Giga’s work environment and mission. By the end, they will have deeper insight into the initiative and its pillars.
Reception at Giga Connectivity Centre (17:30 onwards)
Day 2 – Wednesday, 3 December
Morning Energizer (08:45–09:00)
Participants revisit Day 1 insights and prepare for Day 2. By the end, they will feel oriented and ready to engage.
Session 6: Market Engagement and Risk Mitigation (09:00–10:30)
The session introduces strategies for market engagement that promote sustainability. By the end, participants will understand how to design engagement plans and incorporate risk mitigation.
Coffee Break (10:30–10:50)
Giga Procurement Case: Common Technical Requirements (10:50–11:35)
Participants explore Giga’s work to standardize connectivity procurement across countries. By the end, they will understand how common requirements support government procurement efforts.
Session 7a: Building TORs and Technical Specifications (11:35–12:30)
Participants learn how to draft sustainable TORs and technical specifications. By the end, they will understand how to articulate service levels and sustainability requirements.
Lunch at Campus Biotech Cafeteria (12:30–13:30)
Session 7b: Building TORs and Technical Specifications (13:30–14:15)
A hands-on session where participants apply concepts from the morning. By the end, they will have practiced drafting sustainable technical requirements.
Session 8: Evaluation and Award Criteria (14:15–15:40)
This session covers scoring and lifecycle costing for procurement processes. By the end, participants will understand evaluation methodologies that integrate sustainability and long-term value.
Coffee Break (15:40–16:00)
Panel Discussion: Digital Inclusion by Design (16:00–17:00)
Participants join a panel with the Universal Postal Union and DiploFoundation. By the end, they will have explored how anchor institutions support digital inclusion.
Interactive Discussion on Digital Inclusion (17:00–18:00)
Participants reflect on future pathways for digital inclusion. By the end, they will have deepened their understanding of sustainable digital transformation.
Reception at Giga Connectivity Centre (18:00 onwards)
Day 3 – Thursday, 4 December
Morning Energizer (08:45–09:00)
Participants prepare for the third day and revisit the course themes. By the end, they will feel energized for the activities ahead.
Session 10: Contract Management and Monitoring (09:00–10:30)
Participants explore contract oversight and sustainability KPIs. By the end, they will understand how to monitor supplier performance effectively.
Coffee Break (10:30–10:50)
Giga Procurement Case: Bulk Procurement as a Service (10:50–11:35)
Participants learn how Giga uses LTAs to support African countries in bulk procurement. By the end, they will understand how economies of scale reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Session 11: Rural and Off-Grid Strategies (11:35–12:30)
The session focuses on procurement and monitoring in rural and low-resource settings. By the end, participants will understand how to adapt strategies for underserved communities.
Lunch at Campus Biotech Cafeteria (12:30–13:30)
Visit to the ICRC Logistics Center (13:30–16:00)
Participants explore global humanitarian logistics systems. By the end, they will understand how the ICRC manages procurement and supply chains worldwide.
Visit to CERN (16:00–18:00)
Participants visit CERN’s facilities to learn about its procurement processes for high-technology infrastructure. By the end, they will have insight into CERN’s approach to managing complex scientific projects.
Day 4 – Friday, 5 December
Morning Energizer (08:45–09:00)
Participants begin the final day with a short reflection and preparation activity. By the end, they will feel energized and ready to conclude the course.
Session 12: Regional Adaptation Breakouts (09:00–10:30)
Regional groups work on tailoring course concepts to local contexts. By the end, participants will understand how to adapt procurement and connectivity strategies to their regional environments.
Coffee Break (10:30–10:50)
Session 13: Bringing It All Together (10:50–12:30)
Participants draft action plans to implement the course learning in their home countries. By the end, they will have outlined concrete next steps for applying training insights.
Lunch at Campus Biotech Cafeteria (12:30–13:30)
Course Feedback Session (13:30–14:30)
Participants provide reflections and structured feedback on the course. By the end, they will have shared their views on content quality, delivery, and relevance.
Closing and Certificate Ceremony (14:30–15:00)
The course concludes with final remarks and a certificate presentation. By the end, participants will have formally completed the programme and celebrated their achievements.
Financial support available
The training is offered free of charge for eligible nationalities. Travel and daily subsistence allowances will be covered for selected applicants from countries collaborating with the Giga initiative:
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Burundi, Cambodia, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Moldova, Mongolia, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Panama, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Applicants can apply both to the course and the fellowship by clicking in "Apply Here" on the top right part of this page.
Nationals from countries outside the list above are welcome to apply, but they must commit to self-finance all of their costs if selected.
Tutors
Registration information
Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.
