Global Alliance for ICT and Development

What Global Alliance for ICT and Development does

Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) is a volunteer-staffed, UN-endorsed 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in New York (EIN 93-4547069) that operates as an open, inclusive convening platform rather than a commercial technology vendor. Its mission is to bring together governments, businesses, academia, and civil society to advance the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) for international development, with programs targeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Its core deliverables are advocacy campaigns and knowledge initiatives, including the Computers for Schools in Africa program (soliciting used-computer donations for redistribution to African schools), the Top100 SmartCities global ranking, the World Children's Day marathon, the Gaza Reconstruction Initiative, the Lost Legacies documentation project, and a Publications Hub covering AI and International Security, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, E-Governance and Smart Cities, Universal Rights of Children, and Hidden Histories.

GAID does not develop proprietary software, APIs, or AI/ML systems; its underlying 'technology' is a multi-stakeholder coalition platform supported by a website (gaid.org), social media channels, email newsletters, and an extensive publications library. Its revenue model is donations and charitable contributions — there is no commercial pricing, no subscriptions, and no investor or parent-company backing. The organization relies on partnerships for distribution and program delivery, including formal alliances with the United Nations, the Italian Senate, the Norwegian Stortinget, and the Timor-Leste presidency, alongside documented support from 37 Nobel Laureates across six disciplines.

Headcount is volunteer-based with no paid employees disclosed in the source data. Customer and beneficiary segments are governments and policy makers (primary), academic and research institutions (primary), technology companies (secondary), and civil society organizations (secondary). There are no paying customers, no enterprise sales motion, and no disclosed financial figures; operational reach is documented through outreach to 35+ parliaments and heads of state and programs spanning Africa, Gaza, and global smart-city initiatives.

Name

Global Alliance for ICT and Development

Legal name

Global Alliance for ICT and Development, Inc.

Website

https://gaid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Alliance for ICT and Development is a volunteer-staffed, UN-endorsed 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes governments, academia, civil society, and technology companies to advance ICT for development through programs such as Computers for Schools in Africa, Top100 SmartCities, and World Children's Day.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Advocacy

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Professional Organizations (81392), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships (EDADALAJ), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• ICT for development
• Digital inclusion
• Smart cities advocacy
• Nonprofit development
• Digital divide

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: GAID operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization that relies on donations to fund its operations and programs. Donors can contribute via the website or bank transfer.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Global Alliance for ICT and Development is a UN-endorsed nonprofit organization that convenes governments, parliamentarians, academia, civil society, and the private sector to advance the use of information and communications technologies for sustainable development. Its activities center on advocacy campaigns, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and the production of knowledge publications on topics such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, smart cities, and children's rights.

Product overview

Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) is a United Nations-endorsed initiative that operates as an open, inclusive platform rather than a traditional product company. The organization does not offer a unified software platform with modules, but rather provides a portfolio of advocacy programs and knowledge initiatives. Its core offerings include: the Computers for Schools in Africa program for digital inclusion, the Top100 SmartCities ranking initiative for urban innovation research, World Children's Day advocacy campaigns, Gaza reconstruction efforts through technology, the Lost Legacies documentation project, and a Publications Hub covering AI security, blockchain, smart cities, and children's rights. These initiatives are collaborative programs supported by Nobel laureates and international partners, designed to advance UN Sustainable Development Goals through ICT.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Computers for Schools in Africa An advocacy and capacity-building initiative aimed at expanding ICT access and digital literacy in African schools through partnerships and resource mobilization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global reach through support from 35+ parliaments and heads of state
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• 37 Nobel LaureatesflagshipOthersNotable Nobel Prize winners including Arthur B. McDonald (Physics 2015), Charles M. Rice (Medicine 2020), Giorgio Parisi (Physics 2021), and others publicly support GAID's mission. These laureates lend their credibility and prestige to the organization's initiatives.
• United NationsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGAID is an initiative approved by the United Nations as an open and inclusive platform. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has endorsed GAID's World Children's Day initiative.
• Italian SenatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresident Ignazio La Russa acknowledged the Global Alliance's initiative to celebrate World Children's Day, indicating governmental support for GAID programs.
• Timor-LestecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresident José Manuel Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and President of Timor-Leste, backs GAID's mission and initiatives.
• Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresident Masud Gharahkhani of the Stortinget (Norwegian Parliament) endorsed Global Alliance's initiative, demonstrating parliamentary support.
• 35+ Parliaments and Heads of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGAID has sent letters to members of 35 parliaments and heads of state, indicating broad international governmental engagement.
• Technology Companies (Donors)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGAID's 'Bridge Digital Gap' initiative calls on companies to consider donating used computers instead of disposing of them, targeting technology sector partnerships.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Web Foundation: Nonprofit advancing affordable, meaningful internet access and digital rights globally through research, advocacy, and convening. Highly comparable as a digital inclusion advocacy and policy organization with publication output.
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU): UN specialized agency for ICTs that convenes governments and industry on digital inclusion, connectivity, and ICT4D policy. Directly comparable to GAID's ICT-for-development convening mission and UN-system positioning.
• Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL): Nonprofit focused on digital inclusion and ICT4D with strong convening role across governments, funders, and technology companies. Closely comparable mission (bridging the digital divide) and multi-stakeholder convening model.

Emerging players

• NetHope: Nonprofit consortium of humanitarian and development organizations working on technology and digital inclusion in low-resource settings. Comparable ICT4D focus with a programmatic (rather than advocacy-only) delivery model.
• Access Now: International digital rights nonprofit that convenes governments, civil society, and technologists on digital policy and access. Comparable advocacy and convening model focused on ICT for human rights and inclusion.

Broad incumbents

• World Economic Forum (Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution): Multi-stakeholder international organization convening governments, business, and academia on technology policy including AI, blockchain, and smart cities. Comparable convening and publication model on emerging-tech policy areas GAID addresses.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German development agency that runs ICT4D and digital skills programs across Africa and emerging markets. Comparable geographic focus and digital inclusion mandate, though state-backed and far larger in scale.
• USAID Digital Development (Digital Frontiers): US government initiative funding digital inclusion, ICT policy, and open infrastructure in developing countries. Comparable ICT4D mandate and donor-program model, though state-funded and substantially larger.
• UNDP Digital: UN Development Programme's digital transformation practice, which drives ICT-for-development programs across emerging markets. Comparable multi-stakeholder, UN-affiliated delivery model, though broader in scope and far larger in budget.
• UNICEF Office of Innovation: UN agency driving technology and digital programs for children's rights and education in developing countries. Comparable children's-rights and digital-access framing, with far larger operational footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookgaid.org/news/computers-for-schools-in-africa/secretary-generals-message-for-world-childrens-day
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-alliance-for-ict-and-development

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Alliance for ICT and Development