Cibervoluntarios Network: Global Alliance for Inclusive Digital Adoption
Fundacion Cibervoluntarios
Session 217
Join the movement to promote digital inclusion in local communities
Would you like to join an international network dedicated to bridging the digital divide locally? We invite you to discover the Cibervoluntarios Network, a Fundación Cibervoluntarios initiative that connects social organizations worldwide to promote inclusive, collaborative digital transformation with real impact.
In this participatory seminar, we will present this innovative alliance, which is based on co-governance, collaboration, and citizen action. It is already connecting and equipping entities in Latin America and Europe and will soon expand to all continents. Through coordinated projects, the network promotes the development of digital skills that have a real impact on access to rights, employment, education, and participation. It also encourages technological volunteering as a pillar of change and citizen participation.
Are you part of a social organization, institution, or collective working for digital inclusion? Come learn about the model, share ideas, and work towards becoming part of a network that aims to reach 25 countries and 1 million people by 2027.
Come participate and connect with a community that is driving digital transformation from the bottom up!
Context and Relationship with the WSIS Process:
The global digital transformation has brought remarkable opportunities, but it has also widened existing inequalities. Since 2001, Fundación Cibervoluntarios has worked to democratize access to technology, especially among vulnerable communities. Through a model based on local action and technological volunteering, it has empowered citizens by promoting digital skills and inclusion from the ground up.
Cibervoluntarios Network is the next step: a collaborative structure that connects grassroots organizations worldwide to build stronger, locally adapted responses to digital exclusion. Rather than enforcing a single model, the Network fosters mutual learning, co-creation, and context-specific innovation.
The Network builds on successful, award-winning initiatives such as:
- Empodera.org (WSIS Award 2016): A global platform that connects civic tech and social innovation initiatives, promoting ethical, citizen-centered use of technology.
Innovadoras TIC (WSIS Award 2021): A project that identifies, trains, and highlights women leaders in tech and social innovation, promoting gender equality in the digital field.
- Digital Literacy Programs: Tailored workshops for seniors, youth, migrants, and women to develop functional and transformative digital skills.
- Technological Volunteering Model: A scalable methodology for digital training, coordinated through a network of volunteers acting as local change agents.
Vision for WSIS Towards 2025:
The Network aligns directly with WSIS Action Lines: promoting access to knowledge (C3), lifelong learning (C4), and digital inclusion in employment and education (C7). It also supports cultural diversity (C8), digital ethics (C10), and international collaboration (C11).
Looking ahead, Cibervoluntarios Network will continue expanding as a global mechanism for sustainable digital development, empowering local actors and contributing to a just, inclusive, and participatory digital society aligned with the WSIS vision and the SDGs.
Social Entrepreneur: Founder and current president of Fundación Cibervoluntarios, a nonprofit organization that promotes using technology to empower citizens. Recognized by the Financial Times as one of the 100 entities leading growth in Europe and as one of "Europe's 100 Digital Champions."
In 2021, she was selected by Forbes magazine as one of "The Other 100 Greatest Fortunes in Spain." In 2018, she was named one of COTEC's 100 as a Fourth Sector specialist. She was selected as one of the Top 100 Women Leaders in Spain three times, in 2016, 2012, and 2011. These appointments made her an honorary female leader. She was also awarded the Real Women Award for Innovation by Mía magazine in 2011. She was previously awarded a scholarship by the United States Federal Government's International Leadership Visitor Program.
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C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
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C3. Access to information and knowledge
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C4. Capacity building
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-employment
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C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
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C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
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C11. International and regional cooperation
The Cybervolunteers Network session directly aligns with several WSIS Action Lines by presenting an international collaboration network that promotes digital inclusion through a practical, territorial, and socially impactful approach.
C3. Access to Information and Knowledge: The network provides equitable access to technology and digital knowledge by offering free training activities, technological volunteering opportunities, and locally relevant content, thereby reducing the digital divide.
C4. Capacity Building: The Cibervoluntarios Network is designed to strengthen the digital skills of vulnerable groups by empowering individuals and organizations with proven tools and methodologies to lead digital transformation processes.
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning: The network promotes digital learning through face-to-face and online workshops, educational content aligned with the DigComp 2.2 framework, and continuous training adapted to different knowledge levels.
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-employment: The network improves the digital skills of unemployed people, freelancers, and entrepreneurs to facilitate their inclusion in the labor market and the creation of new economic opportunities in local contexts.
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content: The network respects and promotes cultural and linguistic diversity. It allows each local organization to adapt training content to its needs and develop its own digital content.
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society: The Cibervoluntarios Network promotes the ethical, fair, and responsible use of technology based on the principles of digital citizen sovereignty, equity, participation, and respect for digital rights. The network also promotes media literacy and the prevention of disinformation and hate speech.
C11. International and regional cooperation: The project is based on active cooperation between organizations from different countries to foster regional and international alliances and scale up inclusive digital transformation initiatives from the local to the global level.
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Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
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Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
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Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
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Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
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Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
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Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
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Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
The Cibervoluntarios Network session directly aligns with several key SDGs. It presents an international network that promotes digital transformation as a means of reducing inequalities and boosting education, employment, equity, and global cooperation.
SDG 1: No Poverty: Acquiring digital skills improves access to economic opportunities, social resources, and public services, especially in vulnerable communities.
SDG 4: Quality Education: The Cibervoluntarios Network promotes continuous and accessible learning by offering free training in basic and advanced digital skills to people of all ages and backgrounds.
SDG 5 – Gender equality: The network includes specific approaches to empower women and girls in the digital environment by facilitating their access to technology, education, and entrepreneurship from a gender perspective.
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth: The network promotes entrepreneurship, decent work, and local economic development through social innovation by improving employability through digital training.
SDG 10: Reduced inequalities: The Cibervoluntarios Network collaborates with local organizations to adapt interventions to specific contexts, combating territorial, social, and generational digital divides.
SDG 16: Peace, justice, and strong institutions: Digital inclusion strengthens citizen participation, transparency, and the exercise of digital rights, all of which are fundamental to a more just and equal society.
SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals: The Cibervoluntarios Network model is based on building international, horizontal, multi-stakeholder partnerships to promote cooperation and achieve fair, sustainable digital development.
Cibervoluntarios Network: https://www.cibervoluntarios.org/en/about-us/cibervoluntariosnetwork
Web of Fundación Cibervoluntarios: https://www.cibervoluntarios.org/en
Linkedin Fundación Cibervoluntarios: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cibervoluntarios
Youtube Cibervoluntarios: https://www.youtube.com/user/cibervoluntarios