In Chile’s rural Ñuble region, limited connectivity has historically constrained access to digital tools, yet young innovators like 15-year-old Jessika Hurtado are changing that. By learning about circuits and communication technologies, Jessika gained the confidence to develop a biotechnology project that helps cilantro crops withstand frost and drought, linking scientific knowledge with local agricultural challenges. She emphasizes the importance of equal opportunities for girls in science, demonstrating how early exposure to technology can foster climate innovation and community problem-solving.
Similarly, Amanda Ledesma is combining coding with geophysics to develop a georadar prototype that detects underground water tables and geological faults. For Amanda, digital inclusion represents perspective and opportunity, showing other girls that persistence and creativity can overcome barriers. Both Jessika and Amanda were trained through UN Women and the International Telecommunication Union’s “Connected Communities (Comunidades Conectadas)” initiative, which has reached nearly 100 girls with hands-on digital skills workshops.
Despite Chile’s high overall internet usage of 94.5 per cent, rural and remote communities like Ñuble and La Araucanía face persistent connectivity challenges that limit educational, economic, and social opportunities. Women and girls are particularly affected, as only 22.4 per cent of STEM workers in Chile are women. Through initiatives like “Connected Communities,” the UN in Chile, funded by the Joint SDG Fund, has installed over 50 connection points, providing broadband access to 8,500 people and indirectly benefiting over 440,000 residents. The initiative also delivers digital skills training to more than 2,000 people, including women, youth, small farmers, and indigenous communities.
Beyond connectivity, the programme promotes leadership and entrepreneurship. Workshops like “Electric Circuit for Communicating” and the “Mujeres Conectadas Business School” equip women with digital marketing, financial literacy, and business management skills, boosting autonomy and economic participation. Courses such as “Digital Citizenship and Gender” train older rural women in cybersecurity and safe use of government services, fostering independence and protection online. By integrating gender equality, the initiative ensures that digital transformation expands opportunities rather than deepening divides.
The success of “Connected Communities” is driven by coordinated UN efforts in Chile, including FAO, PAHO/WHO, UN Women, ITU, and ECLAC, with the Resident Coordinator’s Office aligning expertise and ensuring coherence with national priorities and Sustainable Development Goals. UN agencies combine strengths in digital connectivity, gender equality, and rural development to accelerate inclusive digital transformation at the local level. María José Torres, UN Resident Coordinator in Chile, emphasizes that empowering rural women strengthens both their autonomy and the resilience of their communities.
Through initiatives like “Connected Communities,” young innovators, entrepreneurs, and women in rural Chile are leveraging digital tools to improve livelihoods, strengthen resilience, and shape the future of their communities. Their stories highlight how inclusive digital transformation translates commitments to gender equality into tangible progress, celebrating the agency and impact of women and girls.
