IICA, with the support of the IDB and Microsoft, will launch a study on the development of digital skills in rural areas

San Jose, 4 March 2021 (IICA). On March 8, International Women’s Day, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will launch “Digital Literacy in Rural Areas: An Indispensable Condition to Bridge the Divide in Latin America and the Caribbean” - a study prepared with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Microsoft. The event will be attended by high-level authorities from the countries of the Americas.

The new project aims to provide inputs for the adoption of policies and to shift the focus of public discussions to a topic that is often overlooked – the acquisition of digital skills in the rural communities of Latin America and the Caribbean. Digital literacy plays no less important a role than connectivity and the fact that it is limited is undermining the tremendous production, social and economic potential of rural areas.

This presentation is taking place following the publication of two previous studies that showed the profound digital gender gaps in rural areas and quantified shortcomings in adequate levels of connectivity in rural areas.

According to the study “Digital Rural Gender Divide in Latin America and the Caribbean”, prepared by Oxford University, with the support of IICA, the IDB and IFAD, rural women with limited schooling are less “connected”, despite the fact that they account for more than a half of food production.

Moreover, the IICA-IDB-Microsoft research study “Rural Connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Bridge to Sustainable Development During a Pandemic” indicates that at least 77 million people in rural communities in Latin America and the Caribbean are unable to access internet services that satisfy minimal quality standards.

IICA decided to focus on the issue of digital skills to effectively use information and communication technology resources and on the relevant content to encourage the use of these resources, in view of their tremendous potential to transform all areas of life in rural areas.

The study outlines strategies and policies to address this issue, mindful of the fact that the contribution of digital technologies and their incorporation into agriculture are key to transforming food production and consumption practices. Also highlighted is the notion that digital technologies play a pivotal role in providing alternatives to current problems and challenges in rural areas, in terms of production, trade and development.

The study demonstrates the relationship between internet use and schooling and between access, use and gender (girls come into contact with technology much later than boys), stressing the importance of the presence of youth in rural areas to spur the adoption of these technologies.

Author of the study and IICA Consultant, Sandra Ziegler, points out that, “It is not technology per se that fuels changes through its adoption, but rather human talent and organizations which drive change by incorporating digital technologies. Therefore, the emphasis is not solely on availability but also on full adoption and use of technological resources”.

The indicators mentioned in the study also establish a strong link between information and communication technology skills and the working world, demonstrating that the development of digital skills affects one’s ability to access the global digital economy.

The report identifies strategies for digital skills training in rural areas and offers a series of recommendations to encourage the adoption and development of these skills to benefit the rural population.

Details on the event

Date and time: Monday, 8 March, 8 a.m. (Costa Rica time) / -6GMT.

Live transmission on: Facebook Live (Spanish) and on IICA’s YouTube channel (English).

About IICA

IICA is the specialized agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 Member States in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.

More information:

Institutional Communication Division, IICA.

comunicacion.institucional@iica.int