Digital inclusion begins with ICT accessibility as a foundational requirement and succeeds only through a holistic, intersectional, and intersectoral approach—ensuring that all people, everywhere, can meaningfully use technology and participate in the digital economy, society, and environment.
Digital Inclusion work approach
Visual Representation of ITU-D's Work Approach to Digital Inclusion:
This powerful visual—shaped as a circle to symbolize the interconnectedness of our digital world—captures ITU-D's holistic approach to digital inclusion. It presents five interlinked puzzle pieces, each representing a key group often facing digital barriers: women and girls, older persons, persons with disabilities, people in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, and young people.
At the heart of the circle is a mobile phone displaying the universal accessibility symbol. This central placement underscores a key principle: ICT/digital accessibility—requirements, standards, and principles—must be embedded from the outset and fully applied in the design and deployment of all ICT products, services, and applications to ensure they are usable and therefore beneficial for everyone, including for people in vulnerable situations.
More than a graphic, this reflects ITU-D’s expertise, sustained efforts, and firm commitment to building a digital society and ecosystem where no one is left behind.
Ensuring No One Is Left Behind in the Digital World
At ITU-D, we are committed to advancing a digitally inclusive society where everyone—regardless of age, ability, educational background, socio-economic status, or geographical location—can participate equitably and fully in the digital society and ecosystem. To help realize this vision, we take action through the following key pillars:
Enabling the Development of National Digital Inclusion Policies and Strategies:
We provide expert guidance, technical advice, and develop practical tools, guidelines, and resources to support ITU Member States, Sector Members, Academia, and other relevant stakeholders in building inclusive digital societies. We also strengthen their capacity to formulate and implement national digital inclusion policies and strategies, from a holistic, intersectional and intersectoral perspective. Our goal is to ensure that the design and deployment of ICT products, services, and applications comply with ICT/ digital accessibility requirements, standards, and principles, thereby placing the digital inclusion of all people at the heart of national digital agendas worldwide.
Building and Sharing Knowledge to Foster More Inclusive Societies and Regions:
Through platforms such as Accessible Regional – ICT for ALL, we create spaces to strengthen knowledge on ICT accessibility, promoting knowledge exchange, peer learning, and collaboration to advance regional and national implementation. These platforms facilitate the sharing of good practices and build bridges across regions, contributing to the development of inclusive environments at the local, regional, and global levels.
Empowering All People Equitably through ICTs: Leaving No One Behind:
We work with ITU members and multi-stakeholder partners to design and implement impactful initiatives, projects, and activities that close the digital divide. Our focus is on empowering everyone including those groups in vulnerable situations such as—women and girls, older persons, persons with disabilities, and people from rural, remote, and Indigenous communities—through knowledge and the use of ICTs for their socio-economic advancement, enabling them to become active participants in the digital society and economy.