CAF helps close the digital divide in Ibero-America

CAF—development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean—sponsored the meeting "Education for Sustainable Development: Closing the digital divide in Ibero-America." This activity by the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America (OIJ) and Global University Systems (GUS), took place as a parallel event at the 78th United Nations General Assembly.

This meeting focused on how to accelerate partnerships for high-quality education (SDG 4 and 17), reduce inequalities (SDG 10), and promote decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). Panelists included Global University Systems Executive Director Aaron Etingen, Chief Economist at the UNDP Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean Almudena Fernández, Honduras Youth Minister Zulmit Rivera, and Paraguay's Youth Minister Florencia Taboada. The main topics discussed included: Inclusive, equitable, safe, and healthy educational facilities; Learning and skills for life, work, and sustainable development; Digital learning and transformation; and Financing for education.

"All these changes cannot be materialized without the support of those in charge of implementing the relevant policies," said Christian Asinelli, Corporate Vice President of Strategic Programming at CAF.

He also stressed: "We want to keep thinking, promoting, and also supporting digital transformation and the development of the youth in the region, so that these young people in Ibero-America can unleash their talents, achieve their dreams, and create the conditions that help them develop economically and socially. But, most importantly, we want no young person in Ibero-America to be left out of the digital transformation that is underway as a result of the Fourth Industrial Revolution."

Asinelli ended his remarks with a call for "us to work together, not only the public and private sectors, but also sectors such as indigenous peoples, people of African descent, including gender issues and diversity."

All the speakers shared key lessons learned and explored ways to foster partnerships between the public and private sectors in order to close the educational and digital gap, while creating resilient communities with a focus on youth and the development of the next generation of leaders in Ibero-America.

CAF is committed to supporting the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America (OIJ) in the development of a New Youth Agenda to benefit the youth of the region. This agenda includes the development of a transnational cooperation mechanism in the field of digital transformation with a special emphasis on Education for Sustainable Development.

For the closing of the event, Max Trejo, Secretary General of the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America (OIJ), noted: "We wanted to have more voices from different realms in order to have more perspectives, and to have parties engaged in favor of young people to help close the digital divide."

Furthermore, Mariano Jabonero, Secretary General of the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) said: "We already have 32 million high school students in our region. We are the world's fastest growing region in terms of higher education."

The event also featured Ambassador Lorena Larios, cooperation officer at the General Secretariat for Ibero-America (SEGIB). Larios explained that "our great challenge at this point is for countries to take ownership of [the Ibero-American Charter of Principles and Rights of Digital Environments] and develop the capacity to enforce it in our internal legislation in order to guarantee the rights of all." Furthermore, Núria Vilanova, president of the Business Council for Ibero-America (CEPAI), underscored: "From the perspective of youth and education, we have never had as much Ibero-America as we do now."