Rural communities are not immune to the challenges posed by new technologies and their contribution to mobilizing local assets to take better advantage of the opportunities that arise in rural territories.

The focus of this alliance between ITU and FAO aims to empower rural communities facing the changes that social, economic, digital and environmental innovation is bringing, where ICTs can provide an effective contribution to face the challenges of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

Objectives

Raise awareness and commitment through a space of discussion and analysis to generate a favorable environment, stimulating the potential for innovation in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, in order to foster smart rural communities more prepared to face the challenges of the 2030 Agenda.

Specific objectives

• Facilitate dialogue between relevant actors from their areas of action and the exchange of concrete experiences and knowledge among social, digital, environmental and economic innovation leaders, in which digital solutions or technologies have played a relevant role for sustainable rural development.
• Identify needs, encourage different types of innovation and connect digital ICTs and digital innovation with sustainable agricultural development in the region.
• Analyze the challenges to reduce the digital divide in rural territories for the adoption and deployment of new technologies.
• Discuss and analyze the experiences, lessons learned and results achieved in the countries of the region to improve the livelihoods and resilience of family farmers.
• Identify needs, priorities and opportunities at the policy level to strengthen innovation systems that improve multisectoral dialogue.