BBVA Microfinance Foundation

Accelerating the digital inclusion and entrepreneurship ventures of vulnerable communities in Latin America

Entrepreneurship is a driving force for society. It can help improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities and increase socio-economic prosperity. Infused by the power of digital technologies, entrepreneurial ventures can scale faster and enjoy higher growth potential.

The BBVA Microfinance Foundation has pledged to invest USD 8 billion by 2025 to support vulnerable entrepreneurs and their families and provide them with digital solutions, development programmes, digital skills and Internet access.

This pledge has the potential to impact the lives of 14 million people in vulnerable communities in Latin America with special attention to women.

The Foundation uses financial services, training and advice together with digital solutions and programmes to develop the digital and financial skills of vulnerable entrepreneurs. It is also aware of how essential it is for low-income people to access the Internet to overcome the digital gap and make progress; that is why it also brings connectivity to remote areas and offers training programmes in digital skills to ensure no one is left behind.

This pledge has achieved a significant amount to date, with USD 2.6 billion having already been disbursed and 3.3 million low-income entrepreneurs (of whom 58% are women) provided with financial services, training and advice together with digital solutions and capacity-building programmes. This has bolstered progress for the entrepreneurs and their families, impacting the lives of 10.9 million people in vulnerable communities.

“Partner2Connect is an excellent platform to share our efforts in reducing the digital divide among the vulnerable entrepreneurs in Latin America. It constitutes an excellent coalition to learn and partner with others and have a ripple effect by attracting other organizations so we can all contribute to this enormous challenge and accelerate progress so no one is left behind.“

Gabriela Eguidazu,
Director of Innovation for Inclusive Growth, BBVA Microfinance Foundation

Japan - Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Leveraging expertise in ICTs through capacity-building programmes for government officials

Capacity building on policy and technology has been recognized as a major issue for governments around the world. To address this challenge, Japan has implemented five capacity-building programmes to leverage and share its knowledge and expertise in information and communication technologies (ICTs). Through this pledge, Japan has reached out to 65 government officials from 54 countries with courses on 5G and beyond, policy and regulation, e-health, education, resiliency, and cybersecurity.

With a total investment of USD 2.2 million, this pledge intends to support the digitalization of various countries including LDCs and assist them in the development of their human resources. In addition to the training courses, participants have also had opportunities to share their best practices and challenges related to ICTs, followed by an exchange of views between all of the participating countries. This process has also strengthened relationships between Japan and the other nations taking part in the training sessions.

Through this P2C Digital Coalition pledge, Japan has been dedicated to building capacity for increasing global digital development, leveraging good practices, and reducing the digital divide.

“Leveraging and sharing knowledge and expertise is key to digital transformation. Japan underscores the importance of human resource development through capacity-building programmes for the creation of sustainable ICT environments.”

Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Chicos.net

Imagine if… the voices of indigenous teens were amplified through technology and digital skills…

Imagina Si (‘imagine if’) is a digital inclusion project aimed at boys and girls from indigenous communities in Latin America. The initiative provides them with tools to create stories with digital media (animation techniques, digital comics and sound) using shared images from their cultures. Since the launch of this initiative in March 2022, Chicos.net has been working with 700 adolescents and teachers in Colombia, Argentina and Mexico. The initiative seeks to motivate these young indigenous communities to start using technology meaningfully as producers and creators of content. It looks to help them develop digital skills, connect with peers from other indigenous communities in the region, and ultimately, amplify their voices so that their languages, ideas and cultures can get global exposure.

In addition to this pledge, Chicos.net has submitted two other commitments to Partner2Connect: Historias para Armar and HumanIA. These efforts also target the development of 21st century skills in children, and empower students to engage consciously and responsibly with the artificial intelligence ​​applications that they encounter.

One of the key challenges for the execution of these pledges is related to infrastructure. The communities in question lack suitable devices and a reliable, affordable connection to the Internet. However, these three pledges have resulted in the emergence of new alliances with national and provincial authorities, which soon could help bring about solutions to these challenges.

“Imagina Si combines storytelling with digital media to strengthen the skills necessary in today's world and to give under-represented children and teens a voice, new ways of expression and a meaningful use of technology.”

Microsoft Corporation

Empowering 10 million people through digital skills 

Closing the digital divide is not only a function of affordable access to infrastructure, devices and digital technologies. Having the fundamental skills required to adopt and leverage that connectivity is also key. In this spirit, Microsoft has pledged to the P2C Digital Coalition to equip 10 million people from underserved communities with in-demand digital, foundational, or technical skills by 2025.

To date, Microsoft has delivered on the implementation of its pledge by training and certifying over 5 million such people globally.

Additional achievements to highlight include the following:

• Launched the Tech@Work initiative in Senegal in partnership with the International Organisation of Employers, Synapse, and the Conseil National du Patronat du Sénégal. This initiative aims to train 20,000 youth and women with digital, entrepreneurial and job-related skills in four LDCs in Africa: Senegal, Uganda, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian Government to train 5 million youth on the digital capacities that are most sought-after by employers, upskilling 1,700 master trainers in the next three years.
• Became involved in the Passport to Earning (P2E) global skilling programme led by Generation Unlimited in partnership with Accenture, Dubai Cares, and UNICEF. P2E provides young people aged 15-24 with free, world-class and job-relevant training and the certifications they need to secure in-demand roles and opportunities for improved livelihoods. At the time of writing, the programme is being developed in the context of India’s public education system to deliver blended learning for 5 million young people, including 2.5 million young women.

Along with this pledge, Microsoft’s Airband Initiative submitted two other joint pledges to P2C: one on expanding access to connectivity in Malawi (the Hunger Project), and one with USAID on closing the digital divide between female and male learners.

“Microsoft’s approach to tackling the digital divide is based on multistakeholder partnerships. No one sector can solve this challenge alone; the diverse strengths and resources of multiple actors are needed to make continuous and sustainable impact.”

Naria Santa Lucia,
General Manager for Digital Inclusion, Microsoft

Eutelsat S.A.

Connecting 1 million underserved people in Sub-Saharan Africa

Approximately 689 million people in Africa are unable to use the Internet. Innovative broadband technologies and cost-effective solutions are critical to equipping them with universal, fast and meaningful Internet access.

Konnect is Eutelsat’s satellite broadband initiative aimed at delivering easy, affordable and fast Internet for social and economic development. It provides high-speed Internet from 5 to 100 megabits per second, allowing individuals, businesses, schools and medical centres to get connected and seize the power of satellite technology.

With its USD 250 million investment in the new Konnect satellite, Eutelsat is committed to changing the digital landscape and shaping the digital future of 1 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Within the next five years, Konnect will bring high-speed broadband to these populations living in remote, rural and unserved areas where terrestrial networks cannot reach.

As of 10 November 2022, a total of 185,000 people had been provided with access to the Internet through Konnect. This service will enable all types of users to enjoy the social and economic opportunities that Internet connectivity entails, instantly and at affordable prices.

"Konnect’s ambition is to boost social and economic development, providing reliable and fast connectivity, anywhere. Eutelsat’s pledge to the P2C Digital Coalition demonstrates our dedication to increasing access to connectivity and reducing the digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Astrid Bonté, Director for International Affairs, Eutelsat