The very first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is “No Poverty.” It’s so important that SDG 8 further expands to cover “Decent Work and Economic Growth” – key factors in pulling people out of poverty. Decent work is the cornerstone of a thriving society, ensuring dignity, security, and fulfillment for individuals, while driving economic prosperity. In the rapidly evolving landscape of the future of work, digital skills are becoming increasingly crucial to stay competitive and adaptable. They unlock new opportunities all over the world and enable access to remote work and flexible employment, promoting inclusivity and work-life balance. By investing in digital skills development, GlobalWA members are fostering sustainable growth and resilience in the face of technological change.

Digital Literacy

The digital journey starts early, and making sure children get access to digital resources is an important first step. The Sehgal Foundation in India runs Project Umeed, a program to establish digital libraries with computers, internet, and educational software in underserved communities. In partnership with Trees for Life, the India Development Relief Fund, and the Guru Krupa Foundation, their programs specifically engage young women and girls, who are often disproportionately affected by the digital divide. Through Sehgal programs, women and girls master basic computer applications, learn how to conduct an internet search, and use their new skills to apply for jobs, make online payments, and apply for government support programs. Their Sakshyam program helps students fact check information, understand bias in language, and evaluate online resources to be able to make informed decisions on misleading information that can be prevalent in the digital world.

For Sukarya, innovation doesn’t always mean digital. In India, 32 million children can’t go to school, often due to lack of access to education facilities. So Sukarya developed a classroom on wheels that could travel from community to community. The buses are equipped with computers and offer digital skills classes in addition to literacy and other basic educational needs for children of multiple age groups.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the education statistics can be equally bleak. More than half of children do not complete primary school and of those that do, two thirds haven’t mastered basic reading proficiency. With high student-to-teacher ratios and little access to study materials, mobile-phone-based education platforms can leapfrog some of these intractable problems. Global Partnerships partnered with Eneza Education to create a Digital Study Materials program in which children like Imelda in Kenya can access study guides, take SMS-based tests, and send questions to a network of teachers who provide personalized responses all on their phones. The 9 million children who use the program see a 23% average improvement in learning outcomes. Most importantly, this uptick means that many of these kids are more likely to continue their education.

Read the full article about the future of work by Cady Susswein at Global Washington.