Government Partnership Initiative Rural Connectivity Initiative

Rural Internet Connectivity
Infrastructure Project

For Educational Institutions Across All Levels of Education

Ministry of Education
Starlink Deployment
FutureCampus & CDT Group

2000+

Connection Points

100%

Private Funded

All

Education Levels

Executive Summary

Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Education

A partnership-driven initiative exploring the deployment of satellite internet infrastructure to rural educational institutions across Zambia, improving connectivity and enabling digital education access.

The initiative is designed to enhance quality assurance, enable digital learning, improve administrative efficiency, and facilitate oversight of educational delivery in underserved areas, supporting both public and private institutions.

Private Sector Driven

Infrastructure deployment supported through private sector partnerships and investment models.

Project Objectives

Enhanced Quality Assurance

Real-time monitoring and compliance oversight for rural institutions

Digital Learning Enablement

Access to online educational resources and e-learning platforms

Administrative Efficiency

Digital reporting, data submission, and communication systems

Equity in Education

Bridging the urban-rural digital divide in educational access

Regulatory Compliance

Enabling institutions to meet digital requirements and standards

Data-Driven Decisions

Real-time data collection for policy and resource allocation

Key Challenges Addressed

Solving critical infrastructure gaps in rural education

Digital Isolation

Many rural institutions remain disconnected from digital infrastructure, limiting access to modern educational tools and resources.

Solution

Starlink satellite internet providing reliable, high-speed connectivity regardless of terrestrial infrastructure.

Delayed Oversight

Without connectivity, quality assurance visits and compliance checks are infrequent and resource-intensive.

Solution

Real-time digital reporting, video conferencing, and remote monitoring capabilities.

Scalability Constraints

Expanding infrastructure to remote areas requires creative approaches and partnerships.

Solution

Satellite technology with rapid deployment capability and no terrestrial infrastructure dependency.

Resource Constraints

Education infrastructure investment requires sustainable financing models.

Solution

Private sector partnership model enabling infrastructure deployment through collaborative investment.

Multi-Stakeholder Coordination

Coordinating between government, institutions, and service providers is complex.

Solution

Single implementation partner (FutureCampus & CDT Group) managing all stakeholder relationships.

Administrative Bottlenecks

Paper-based processes slow down data collection, reporting, and decision-making.

Solution

Digital platforms for instant data submission, automated reporting, and workflow management.

Implementation Approach

Phased rollout across strategic stages

Q1 Months 1-3

Foundation

  • MoU signing & partnership formalization
  • Institution selection criteria & prioritization
  • Procurement of Starlink equipment
  • Technical team assembly & training
  • Pilot site identification (10 institutions)
Q2 Months 4-6

Deployment

  • Pilot deployment at 10 institutions
  • Installation & configuration
  • Staff training at pilot sites
  • Monitoring & evaluation framework
  • Lessons learned documentation
Q3 Months 7-9

Enablement

  • Scale deployment to 50+ institutions
  • Digital platforms & tools rollout
  • Comprehensive training programs
  • Integration with MoE systems
  • Support infrastructure establishment
Q4 Months 10-12

Optimization

  • Complete 100+ institution deployment
  • Performance optimization & tuning
  • Impact assessment & reporting
  • Phase 2 planning & expansion
  • Sustainability framework finalization

Stakeholder Ecosystem

Multi-stakeholder partnership ensuring comprehensive implementation

Ministry of Education

Lead Partner

  • Policy guidance & oversight
  • Institution prioritization
  • Regulatory facilitation
  • Quality assurance framework

FutureCampus & CDT Group

Implementation Partner

  • Project management
  • Technical deployment
  • Training & support
  • Ongoing maintenance

MFI Partners

Liquidity Facility

  • Hippo Finance
  • Finedge Financial Services
  • Pota Finance
  • Easy Money Zambia

Private Capital Partners

Funding Partners

  • Equipment financing
  • Installation funding
  • Operational costs
  • Long-term sustainability

Infrastructure Components

Key components of the connectivity infrastructure deployment

Equipment & Hardware

Starlink terminals, routers, networking accessories, and backup power systems

Installation & Setup

Professional site assessments, equipment mounting, and network configuration

Administration & Training

Project management, staff training, ongoing technical support and maintenance

Partnership-Driven Investment

Infrastructure deployment is supported through private sector partnerships and collaborative investment models.

Governance Framework

Project Governance

Joint Steering Committee

MoE and FutureCampus representatives providing strategic oversight, meeting quarterly.

Technical Working Group

Day-to-day implementation oversight, monthly coordination meetings.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Regular reporting, KPI tracking, and impact assessment framework.

MoU Framework

Clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability structures documented.

Next Steps

1

Review & Approval

Ministry review of proposal and preliminary approval

2

MoU Signing

Formal partnership agreement execution

3

Institution Selection

Joint prioritization of pilot institutions

4

Pilot Launch

Begin deployment at first 10 institutions

5

Scale & Expand

Full rollout based on pilot learnings

Ready to Bridge the Digital Divide?

Join us in transforming rural education through connectivity. This partnership represents a zero-cost opportunity for the Ministry to enhance quality assurance and educational delivery across Zambia's rural institutions.

+260 777-094-969

Lusaka, Zambia