Introduction

This paper from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) explores the critical topic of digital inclusion in rural transformation. As digital technologies increasingly shape various aspects of life, it’s crucial to understand how they impact rural communities, particularly smallholder farmers and marginalized groups. The paper addresses the paradox that while digitalization holds immense potential for improving outcomes across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it also carries the risk of exacerbating existing inequalities if not managed inclusively.

The authors highlight that rural residents and marginalized groups, who stand to benefit the most from digitalization, are also the most vulnerable to being left behind due to digital divides. The report emphasizes the need for rural development practitioners and decision-makers to navigate this paradox effectively by recognizing the factors that lead to digital exclusion, examining the ways digital divides play out, and implementing recommendations to improve digital inclusion.

Key Insights

Three Levels of the Digital Divide

The report categorizes the digital divide into three levels, illustrating how these dynamics disadvantage rural areas, especially women and marginalized groups in lower middle-income countries (LMICs):

1. First-Level Digital Divides: Limited access to digital technology and increased likelihood of experiencing barriers to access.
2. Second-Level Digital Divides: Lower quality of access and the existence of after-access barriers, such as lack of digital skills.
3. Third-Level Digital Divides: Structural inequalities that hinder the ability to benefit from digital technology use.

Factors Leading to Digital Exclusion

The combination of these factors leads to digital exclusion:

1. The digitalization of agrifood systems and other sectors vital to the well-being of farmers.
2. The absence or removal of offline alternatives.
3. The persistence of digital divides.

User Autonomy and Agency

The report highlights that user autonomy refers to the degree of control individuals have over their use of digital technology, including when, how, and for what purposes they use it. Ownership of devices and the context of internet usage play a significant role in determining user autonomy.

Key Statistics & Data

• Rural residents are about half as likely to have basic access to the internet (measured as having used it once in the last three months) globally, with the gap being significantly higher in least developed countries (LDCs) (73 percent) and in Africa (70 percent).
• In 2021, approximately 63 percent of the global adult population was estimated to have used the internet at least once in the preceding three months (ITU, 2021a).
• A study across 34 sub-Saharan African countries revealed that only 19% of individuals had access to a computer and a smartphone (Kronke, 2020).

Methodology

This technical report was prepared by Kevin Hernandez and Justin Flynn from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex in collaboration with the Digitalization Thematic Taskforce (DTT) led by Jun He and Huda Alsahi from the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The report relied on published resources related to the digital divide, digital inequalities, digital inclusion and rural development. Resources came from over 300 journal articles, reports, consultations and supplementary materials from esteemed academic journals accessible through platforms. FAO provided FAO-specific case studies found in the boxes to further contextualize the report.

Applications

The insights from this resource have significant implications for digital development, particularly in the design and implementation of Digital Public Goods (DPGs) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). By understanding the barriers to digital inclusion and the specific needs of marginalized groups, development practitioners can create more equitable and effective digital solutions.

The report’s emphasis on gender-responsive digitalization highlights the importance of considering gender dynamics in the design and implementation of digital interventions, ensuring that they do not exacerbate existing inequalities and that digital solutions are sensitive to women and marginalized groups’ needs and context.

The call for offline alternatives is also relevant to DPI and social protection. Digital by default approaches can exclude those without access or skills, and it is crucial to maintain alternative channels for accessing services. This is particularly important in social protection systems, where access to benefits can be essential for survival.