Ibero-American countries work to promote digital inclusion

Closing the digital gap in the LAC region is one of the greatest challenges for real inclusion.

Digital inclusion includes various aspects such as access to technology, connectivity and digital literacy, among others. Although all these are key for the citizenry, more than 225 million people still lack mobile internet access and 45 million live in areas without coverage (GSMA, 2024; Méndez, R., 2025). This problem is a reflection of persisting structural inequialities and, at the same time, it can be a way to promote people’s social and economic development.

The bilateral initiative Digital inclusion in vulnerable populations between Brazil and Mexico, deepens the knowledge of policies, programs and projects in this area in both countries, especially of Aldeas Inteligentes in Mexico and of the Observatory for Integrated and Sustainable Development (ODIS by its Portuguese acronym) in Brazil. The aim of Aldeas is to “connect remote areas via satellite with online education, job training and digital financial inclusion, as well as governmental procedures, among others” (Government of Mexico, 2025). This project is currently being implemented in 76 localities of 16 states thorughout Mexico, and one of its emphases is to strengthen women’s financial economy and promote gender equity (Government of Mexico, 2025).

ODIS, on the other hand, was created as a result of the Latin-American Seminars on Public Policies for Digital Inclusion, organized by the Brazilian Institute of Information on Science and Technology (IBICT by its Portuguese acronym) together with the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC by its Portuguese acronym) and the Lula Institute in 2023 (ODIS, 2025).

This Observatory was developed by IBICT as an “open access information system for the storage and dissemination of scientific, technological and public policy information, for the strengthening of the Latin-American region” (ABC, 2024). A large number of Ibero-American countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay, take part in this initiative.

One of the most recent activities related to ODIS took place on August 8th and 9th, 2024, in Mexico City: the organization of the 5th ODIS seminar and the first international meeting in which delegates from Belize, Guyana and Suriname participated, in addition to the countries of the region.

Through this Bilateral SSC project, Brazil and Mexico contribute to the alignment of Ibero-American cooperation with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals).

July 2025

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Source: SEGIB based on Agencies and Directorates-General for Cooperation, ABC (2024), Government of Mexico (2025), Méndez, R., (2025) and ODIS (2025).

Photos: Observatory for Integrated and Sustainable Development (ODIS by its Portuguese acronym).