By harnessing partners’ expertise, networks and evidence the initiative will create a multiplier effect and enable system-wide transformation to close the global funding gap via unlocking new investments, driving targeted financial commitments and exploring innovative funding models.
With growing global demand and a solid foundation built on a +$100 million investment by Safe Online since 2017 across more than 100 countries – in evidence generation, technological innovation and systemic change – it’s time to scale financial resources towards interventions that work and reach million of children to ensure digital childhoods are safe, inclusive and empowering.
The scale and complexity of digital risks and harms to children and young people have far outpaced the resources available to combat them, leaving millions of children exposed, unsupported, and unheard. Failure to invest now not only endangers individual children but also undermines the collective social and economic progress of communities and nations.
to countering child online safety, digital risks, and harms to children to mobilize co-financing from domestic governments along with catalytic funding from philanthropic funders, private sector and international financial institutions to counter this fast-growing global health crisis – creating a united global front to protect children in the digital world.
in the voices of children, survivors, youth, parents, frontline workers, and decision makers across sectors and is powered by committed partners across the world. Building on the political momentum and landmark commitments from the Bogota Global Ministerial Conference on Violence against Children in November 2024 and leveraging the collaborative leadership of strategic partners, this moment presents a unique opportunity to translate commitments into tangible financial investments for sustained systemic change.
The new initiative will create a multiplier effect and enable system-wide transformation to close the global funding gap. By harnessing partners’ expertise, networks, and evidence, the initiative will align strategic advocacy with resource mobilization to build sustainable, long-term solutions for protecting children online.
Stay tuned as we highlight major milestones, impactful collaborations, and global efforts to build a safer digital world for children. From groundbreaking initiatives to high-level discussions — including the upcoming High-Level Roundtable and Plenary Dialogue on Financing Safe Digital Futures for Children in partnership with the Government of South Africa at the G20 Social Summit on 19 November 2025 in Johannesburg (South Africa)— each moment marks a step forward in driving systemic change.
Africa is home to the world’s youngest population. With over 650 million children today, and a projected one billion by 2055, their future hinges on the decisions we make now. Among the most urgent is how governments across Africa plan and budget
rom online sexual exploitation and abuse to cyberbullying and privacy violations, children face alarming risks every time they go online. Digital technologies are evolving fast, but public investments to make digital spaces safe for children by design and not as an afterthought remain dangerously behind. Most African countries still lack coordinated systems and budget allocations to address online harms.
The rapid expansion of digital technologies – including generative AI, immersive platforms, and social media – has unlocked unprecedented opportunities for young generations. Yet, it has also exposed children and young people to an increasingly complex and fast-growing range of digital risks and harms. These include technology facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse, cyberbullying, mental health challenges, privacy breaches, and other unintended consequences. These harms not only threaten children’s health, development and overall well-being, but also directly undermine their education, limit their future potential, and deepen existing inequalities.
While technology is fast-moving, investments in child online safety are lacking behind. The scale and complexity of digital risks and harms have far outpaced the resources available to address them, leaving millions of children exposed, unsupported, and unheard. Despite the urgency, global commitments and funding remain gravely inadequate to address this rapidly escalating crisis. As digital technologies continue to evolve, the gap between the threats children face and the systems in place to protect them will continue to widen. The absence of sufficient financial resources perpetuates cycles of harm, and carries significant long-term financial and societal costs. Failure to invest now not only endangers individual children but also carries severe long-term costs for communities, and societies at large.
To address this urgent crisis and accelerate progress the Government of South Africa and the new Coalition Safe Digital Futures – Invest in Children will host a High-level Roundtable & Plenary Dialogue on Financing Safe Digital Futures for Children Globally at the G20 Social Summit South Africa on 19 November 2025 in Johannesburg. Building on the political momentum and landmark pledges from the Bogota’ Global Ministerial Conference on Violence against Children in November 2024 and leveraging the collaborative leadership of strategic partners, this moment presents an unparalleled opportunity to translate commitments into tangible financial investments that reset the global financing agenda to counter this fast-growing global health crisis.
This effort responds to growing global demand and builds on more than $100 million invested by Safe Online in over 100 countries across evidence generation, technological innovation and systemic change – providing a solid foundation to scale financial resources toward interventions that work to make digital childhoods safe, inclusive and empowering.
The High-level Roundtable and the Plenary Dialogue will bring together Governments, philanthropic organizations, global institutions, private sector actors, survivors and youth to discuss strategic investments and policy action to protect children from digital risks and harms while advancing inclusive, safe digital transformation.
Bridge high-level dialogue: Enable strategic exchange between Governments, philanthropy, private sector and global institutions to articulate progress, financing needs, and align on investment priorities with a view to unlocking new financing pathways through coordinated commitments.
Mobilize and align financing: Identify financial models and strategic opportunities, including innovative financing and positioning child online safety within broader digital transformation and economic agendas to secure sustainable change.
Ground in experience and showcase scalable solutions: Center the lived experiences of survivors, children, and youth to inform financing priorities and policy frameworks while highlighting promising country-led and cross-sector models that can be adapted and scaled through strategic investments.
Foster regional alignment and accelerate implementation: Encourage cross-border commitments to harmonize policy and create a united investment front for scalable solutions, while leveraging global and regional frameworks along with national experiences to address financing gaps.
Financial investments in coordinated, scalable and sustainable solutions are essential to ensure future generations can benefit from digital opportunities without fear of harm. Yet, chronic underfunding has left systems fragmented and ill-equipped to meet the growing demand and needs. The lack of sufficient financial resources perpetuates cycles of harm, limiting children’s opportunities to thrive, diminishing their future contributions to society and exacerbating global inequalities.
To address this urgent gap, the new coalition Safe Digital Futures – Invest in Children aims to reset the global financing agenda for child online safety and unlock new investments to respond to the fast-growing digital risks and harms affecting millions of children worldwide. By mobilizing co-financing from governments alongside catalytic funding from philanthropic organizations, private sector, and financial institutions, the coalition seeks to drive bold, targeted investments and explore innovative financing models that can deliver system-wide transformation benefiting millions of children.
Launched by Safe Online, The Brave Movement, World Vision International, Plan International, Mtoto News, and ChildFund International – with many more partners expected to join – the coalition will leverage the collective expertise and networks of its members. It will provide a strategic platform to engage with current and prospective investors, strengthen decision-makers’ capacity in line with governments’ pledges at the Bogotá 2024 Global Ministerial Conference, and enhance joint advocacy to secure sustained financing for safe digital futures for children globally.
Online sexual abuse is a preventable public health problem. The staggering costs of violence against children, both human and economic, underscore the urgent need for increased and sustained investments in prevention and protection. As Safe Online, we urge for prioritizing funding for holistic interventions, innovative approaches, and research to address systemic drivers and emerging digital threats, ensuring a coordinated global effort to tackle the global crisis.
Violence against children is a global crisis affecting over half the world’s children and taking many forms including corporal punishment, child labour, torture, trafficking, bullying, harmful practices such as child marriage, and deprivation of liberty. The digital age has amplified the scale and complexity of these issues, exposing children to unprecedented risks most notably, online sexual violence.
The cost of inaction is severe – survivors face increased risks of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and long-term socio-economic disadvantages. Beyond the human toll, violence imposes significant economic burdens—disrupting education, healthcare, and productivity, and costing countries up to 11% of GDP, in some cases exceeding national health expenditures sixfold.
However, online sexual abuse is a preventable public health problem. The staggering costs of violence against children, both human and economic, underscore the urgent need for increased and sustained investments in prevention and protection. As Safe Online, we urge for prioritizing funding for holistic interventions, innovative approaches, and research to address systemic drivers and emerging digital threats, ensuring a coordinated global effort to tackle the global crisis.
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