Women, Community Networks and Technology: RIDHE’s Strategy to Close the Digital Divide in Latin America

News

By the International Network of Human Rights Europe (RIDHE)
Brussels / Costa Rica / Guatemala, 2026

In Latin America and the Caribbean, access to the Internet remains an unfulfilled promise for millions of people. While connectivity in urban areas exceeds 80%, in rural regions it barely reaches between 25% and 30%. This inequality not only limits access to information but also deepens structural gaps in education, health, employment and social participation.

In response to this scenario, the International Network of Human Rights Europe (RIDHE) has made a strategic shift: placing digital inclusion at the core of its work, through an innovative approach that combines community networks, women’s leadership and human rights.

This commitment aligns with recent international discussions, such as the session “Investing in Meaningful and Inclusive Connectivity”, held in Guatemala during the European Union–Latin America and the Caribbean Digital Alliance Week, where experts emphasized that Internet access is no longer a luxury, but an enabling right.

From the Digital Divide to Technological Justice

For RIDHE, the problem is not only technical—it is structural.

Traditional connectivity models—based on large operators and top-down deployment—have proven insufficient to reach rural areas, marginalized communities and populations in situations of forced displacement.

“Connectivity can no longer be designed from the top down. It must be built with communities and for communities,” the organization states.

In this context, community Internet networks emerge as a viable, sustainable and transformative alternative. These are models where communities themselves manage their connectivity, adapting it to their needs, capacities and territorial realities.

Women at the Center of Digital Transformation

One of the most innovative aspects of RIDHE’s strategy is its gender approach. Based on its Theory of Change, the organization has established that there can be no digital inclusion without women’s leadership.

From this vision emerge two key lines of action:

Women in ICT (Mujeres TIC)

A program aimed at strengthening the digital capacities of women and youth, promoting:

• Training in technology and cybersecurity
• Digital entrepreneurship
• Access to decent work
• Participation in the management of community infrastructure

The objective is clear: to move from users to key actors in the digital ecosystem.

Women Supporting Women

This line focuses on strengthening the social fabric through networks of support among women, including:

• Psychosocial support
• Safe spaces for digital literacy
• Community leadership development
• Networks of human rights defenders and change-makers

Here, technology is not just a tool—it is a means to rebuild community, care and resilience.

Investing in Community Networks: High Impact, Low Cost

Experiences in countries such as Colombia demonstrate that community networks are not experimental, but concrete solutions already transforming territories.

These networks make it possible to:

• Reduce Internet access costs
• Build local technical capacities
• Strengthen community economies
• Improve access to essential services

“Every dollar invested in community connectivity translates into greater opportunities for education, health and local development,” highlight regional digital ecosystem actors.

For RIDHE, this represents a paradigm shift: moving from viewing connectivity as an expense to recognizing it as a strategic social investment.

A Call to Governments, Cooperation and the Private SectorThe challenge now is to scale these models. To achieve this, RIDHE proposes progress in four key areas:

• Regulatory reforms that recognize community networks
• Flexible and innovative financing mechanisms
• Appropriate technologies adapted to rural contexts
• Participatory governance with a gender perspective

In this process, the European Union plays a fundamental role. Through initiatives such as the EU–LAC Digital Alliance and the Global Gateway strategy, it can facilitate investment, knowledge transfer and multi-stakeholder coordination.