Initially, 240 Ecuadorian instructors will receive training in digital skills, who will then pass on their knowledge to many more people, thus expanding the reach of the programme. They are expected to teach more than 1 800 people in the next three months.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in coordination with the government of Ecuador, Microsoft and EIDOS, will begin the training of instructors as part of the Skills for the Future programme. This programme seeks to provide training in digital, cognitive and socio-emotional skills, while promoting the development of the employability skills of Ecuadorians and the use of technologies in agri-food systems and rural territories.

The training programme will be implemented within the framework of the 1000 Digital Villages initiative and the Andean Landscapes project, which support a model that incorporates digitalization to promote sustainable livelihoods and the conservation of ecosystem services in the Ecuadorian Andes.

The programme focuses on the joint teaching of digital content and cognitive and socio-emotional skills so that participants can use their learning and apply it in multiple areas of their work life and other areas of development.

The Skills for the Future programme is offered virtually and free of charge through the Microsoft Teams platform to instructors, who will in turn transfer this knowledge to other members of the community. These instructors will receive an updated kit that includes teaching guides, class presentations, videos and templates.

The first stage of the programme is divided into five units, which will be taught during the 40 hours of the course. The instructors will each receive a complete learning kit that includes teaching guides, class presentations, videos and templates. Technology skills covered include data analysis and Excel; presentations and PowerPoint; teamwork and Microsoft Teams; web design and programming, as well as employability and LinkedIn.

For Agustín Zimmerman, FAO Representative in Ecuador, the Skills for the Future programme is an opportunity to move towards more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable rural areas. Incorporating innovation and digitization processes will help to reduce the gap between rural and urban areas, boost production, protect the environment and improve the lives of people in rural areas.

Impact of the programme in Latin America and the Caribbean

The partnership also seeks to expand the programme to other countries in the region where FAO has a presence, aiming to train more than 2 000 people in the next year, all within the framework of efforts to promote digital skills hubs that will be established in the countries of the region.

"Every year, the importance of digitalization is becoming more evident. The World Economic Forum estimates that, by 2030, 77 percent of jobs will be transformed by technology. However, access to [technology] has not always been the same for everyone. That is why this initiative is so important, since it helps reduce the access gap and promotes learning. We are proud to be part of this programme that will give more Ecuadorians the skills they need to succeed," said Jorge Cella, regional director for the Americas at Microsoft Philanthropies.

This programme is part of FAO's 1000 Digital Villages initiative and efforts to prepare the workforce of the future with the support of Microsoft Latin America's philanthropy area.

Eidos Global, an international civil society organization that creates engaging learning experiences, will lead the training sessions and specializes in helping organizations and governments prepare people and communities for life and work in the 21st century.

"Acquiring new skills facilitates our preparation to assume new roles within our current organization, as well as to seek a better position and reinvent ourselves, adapting to the changes of this digital world. Through the Skills for the Future initiative, Eidos Global and Microsoft are focused on reskilling workers. Those who benefit from this training, both digitally and in terms of the acquisition of 21st century skills, will be able to take this learning and apply it in multiple areas of their work life and other areas of development," said Fernando Carracedo, Program Manager of Reskilling Latam at Eidos Global.

About FAO

FAO is the United Nations agency leading the international effort to end hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

About EIDOS

Eidos Global (@eidosglobal) creates high-impact learning opportunities and experiences so that more people have access to the skills they need to develop and be the best version of themselves in a constantly changing world.