The ISOC Zimbabwe digital inclusion project aims to bridge the digital divide for persons with disabilities (PWDs) by enhancing their access to essential information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Spearheaded by the Internet Society Zimbabwe Chapter (ISOC), and funded by Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) focuses on equipping PWDs with digital literacy competencies that enable them to participate meaningfully in Zimbabwe’s digital economy.

Through a series of nationwide training workshops, participants received hands on instruction in internet use, cyber safety, cloud technologies, and basic ICT tools. Over 800 people living with disabilities have been empowered with these skills since the programme’s inception, with cohorts graduating from five day intensive courses and receiving certificates upon completion.

The project has generated significant impact by boosting participants’ confidence and capacity to navigate the digital environment, pursue online opportunities, and share knowledge within their communities. It promotes greater social inclusion, supports economic participation, and aligns with broader national goals to ensure that marginalised groups are not left behind in Zimbabwe’s digital transformation journey.

https://isoc.org.zw/wp/digital-skills-literacy-workshops-persons-with-disabilities-kariba/

• Zimbabwe

• People with disabilities
• youths

The ISOC Zimbabwe digital inclusion project, which delivers tailored digital skills training and ICT workshops for persons with disabilities is highly replicable both within Zimbabwe and across similar contexts in Africa. The core components that make replication feasible include structured digital literacy curricula, inclusive training delivery, and effective multi stakeholder partnerships involving government entities, civil society, and disability organisations.

In Zimbabwe, ISOC and our funding partners POTRAZ have rolled out this model across multiple provinces (Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, and Matabeleland South) by adapting training content to local needs and disability types, demonstrating that the approach works in diverse geographic and socio economic settings. The model is also replicable elsewhere in Africa by aligning it with local communication regulators, disability networks, and community partners, similar to digital inclusion drives in other countries

The project is designed with sustainability at its core, ensuring that the benefits of digital literacy and empowerment for persons with disabilities (PWDs) continue well beyond the initial phases of training interventions. Sustainability is achieved through multiple interlinked strategies encompassing institutional support, capacity building, community ownership, infrastructural resilience, and policy integration.

The project is anchored within the national ICT and digital inclusion strategies, under the leadership of POTRAZ, Zimbabwe’s regulatory authority. By aligning with national priorities and leveraging regulatory mechanisms such as Universal Service Funds, the initiative ensures long-term institutional support. ISOC Zimbabwe complements this by providing technical expertise and community engagement capabilities, creating a robust governance and operational framework. This integration within national and regulatory agendas ensures that the project is not a stand-alone initiative but part of broader, sustained digital development efforts.

The project focuses on equipping PWDs with practical ICT skills, including internet navigation, cybersecurity, and cloud tools, which have long-term applicability. Training participants are encouraged to share knowledge within their communities, creating a multiplier effect that extends the project’s impact organically. The use of a train-the-trainer approach further strengthens sustainability by developing local facilitators capable of delivering ongoing training independently.

Engaging local disability organisations and community groups ensures ownership at the grassroots level. Trained participants become digital ambassadors, empowering peers and fostering ongoing engagement. This community-driven model reinforces continuity and reduces reliance on external actors.

The digital inclusion initiative embodies and promotes the core values of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) by enhancing access, participation, knowledge sharing, and empowerment within the local community, particularly for persons with disabilities (PWDs). The project improves equitable access to ICT tools and online resources for PWDs, who are often marginalized in the digital space. By providing internet connectivity, computer literacy, and training in digital applications, the project ensures that community members can access, evaluate, and use information to make informed decisions in education, employment, and daily life. This aligns directly with WSIS’s vision of inclusive access to information for all. Through practical workshops, the project equips participants with relevant digital skills and knowledge. The train-the-trainer approach empowers community members to share skills with peers, creating a sustainable cycle of capacity building. By fostering digital literacy, the project strengthens human capital, enabling individuals to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the broader information society.