Digital inclusion by design: Leveraging existing infrastructure to leave no one behind

The event is co-organised by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), Giga, and DiploFoundation. It is hosted by the Giga Connectivity Centre in Geneva.

Context

In 2024, 2.6 billion people did not use the internet at least once every three months, with individuals in low- and middle-income countries, rural and remote areas, women, the elderly, marginalised groups, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) disproportionately unconnected. Moreover, even when marginalised groups have some access to the internet, they are less likely to be meaningfully connected in a way that enables access to essential digital services and opportunities because they often use the internet too infrequently or lack internet-enabled devices, reliable high-speed connections, economic resources, or the digital skills necessary for a safe, affordable and productive online experience.

As economies and societies are rapidly digitalising, these persisting digital divides often result in digital transformations that mainly benefit easier-to-reach connected populations, inadvertently deepening inequalities. Innovative approaches are needed to ensure that unconnected and less connected individuals do not remain excluded when sectors and countries undergo digital transformations, but can also meaningfully participate in the digital economy and society.

Focus of the event

Twenty years ago, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) set out a vision of a ‘people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society’. While significant progress has been made, this vision is yet to be fully realised. As we mark the WSIS+20 milestone, a renewed commitment and concrete actions are needed to bridge persistent digital divides and ensure meaningful digital inclusion, leaving no one behind.

This event is dedicated to the international digital community, aims to share practical experiences from the ground on leveraging existing infrastructure to connect the unconnected and the hardest-to-reach populations. The extensive physical network of community anchor institutions, which enjoy the reach and the trust of local populations – including community centers, post offices, schools, libraries, or other public spaces – has proved well placed to provide digital support and digital services to unconnected communities, less digitally savvy individuals, including those living in rural and remote areas.

The discussion will provide concrete examples of how embedding existing community anchor institutions into digital transformation strategies – and enabling them to facilitate digital literacy training or provide access to services such as e-commerce, e-government, e-learning or digital financial services – can be a cost-effective way to expand the benefits of the digital economy to areas where usually no other service providers are present.

The event will also seek to foster discussions on the way forward – how to advance from lessons learned toward meaningful and sustainable digital inclusion.