The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is committed to advancing digital inclusion and empowering communities through capacity-building initiatives. In Latin America, ITU and its partners have developed a hybrid training programme to strengthen the capacities of Indigenous and rural communities to design, implement, and manage their own connectivity and community communication solutions. This programme focuses on community-led ICT development, with particular attention to sustainability, community media, and local ownership. It aims to ensure that Indigenous and rural communities are central to the digital transformation and equipped to manage technologies that meet their specific needs.
Please note: Applications for this programme cycle are now closed.
This initiative is carried out in collaboration with Redes por la Diversidad, Equidad y Sustentabilidad A.C., Rhizomatica Communications and the Association for Progressive Communications, and the organizations associated with the Techio Comunitario Training Programme for Indigenous People in Latin America. The program, started in 2019, is based on the methodology and training needs specific to indigenous peoples in Latin America, for whom in-person meetings, experience exchanges between communities, and practical learning are fundamental to their teaching-learning processes. The programme includes five online courses running from June to December 2025, covering:
- Community-centered ICT project development
- Telecommunications and community networks
- Basics of electricity and solar energy
- Telecommunications policies and regulatory frameworks
- Economic sustainability and organizational management
Upon completing the online phase, participants will be invited to an in-person bootcamp in the first half of 2026. This immersive event will include practical activities, collaborative learning, and the co-development of connectivity initiatives rooted in community priorities.
The hybrid training programme is designed to build capacity directly in the territories where connectivity is most needed. It blends technical, regulatory, and organizational learning in a context-sensitive approach tailored to community realities. From more than 350 applications received, 101 participants were selected from over 16 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Argentina. The group reflects a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, with 42% of participants identifying as women or gender-diverse individuals.
Participants are already engaged in community telecommunications and media projects, amplifying the programme’s impact across multiple territories. Host communities of the in-person bootcamp also benefit directly, as local residents take part in learning activities and see their projects strengthened by the collaborative approach. Beyond the training itself, the programme contributes to a wider regional network of community technical promoters. By connecting current and past participants, facilitators, and long-standing grassroots organizations, it reinforces the movement for community connectivity and media across Latin America.
More information here.
Explore all the editions of this program:
Know more about the programme and its methodology
Guide: Technological Autonomy as a Constellation of Experiences A guide to collective creation and development of training programs for technical community promoters (2021).
Article: Capacity development for Indigenous communities of the Americas region (2021).
