Project Closure for Developing Digital Capabilities in Rural Communities

On Tuesday, August 6th, the project "Response and recovery to the impact of COVID-19 on rural livelihoods and food systems in the countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) through South-South Cooperation" concluded with a meeting in the Pueblo Lavalleja, Salto, Uruguay.

About the project

Opportunities for digital literacy and connectivity have a significant impact on the development of the rural sector, especially in communities remote from large urban centers.

The project was implemented in 12 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean and aimed to promote social and economic inclusion of these communities by providing digital technology equipment and conducting training sessions.

In Uruguay, the project was coordinated with the General Directorate of Rural Development of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (DGDR-MGAP) and in collaboration with the National Commission for Rural Development.

It was implemented in the northern part of the country, in the Basalto Superficial area, in the communities of Paso Cementerio, Carumbé, Pueblo Lavalleja, Puntas de Valentín, Sarandí del Arapey, Pueblo Fernández and Cerros de Vera.

Work was conducted with 10 community centers in the area, with the training sessions attended by rural producers, women and youth.

About the Closing Meeting

At the meeting, different organizations and groups involved in the project presented results and experiences.

Additionally, experiences and tools from other countries in the region that implemented a pilot project were shared. Towards the end, there was an exchange between authorities and key figures from the different institutions.

"It is necessary to pool efforts to enhance the outcomes of the interventions. I celebrate that several organizations are here to offer more opportunities to the rural population", emphasized Mercedes Yacosa, director of DGDR-MGAP.

Regarding the opportunities that projects like this provide to women and youth, Andrés Treglia, Departmental Director of MGAP, stated that such as initiatives contribute to the development and retention of these populations in rural communities.

Macarena Valencia, from the FAO office for Latin America and the Caribbean and Budget Holder for the project, expressed that "for the FAO, it is an honor to support the commitments of the institutions to ensure connectivity and digital inclusion for rural communities, with the aim of improving their quality of life and leaving no one behind".

This project is part of the "A Better Life" pillar of the FAO Strategic Mark for 2022-2031, which aims at the smart and inclusive transformation of agrifood systems to advance more efficiently towards the Sustainable Development Goals.