Introduction

The expansion of digital transformation affects all areas, changing paradigms of production and consumption, as well as how people interact and develop within society. These transformations are particularly relevant for highly unequal societies such as those in Latin America and the Caribbean. Given the opportunities and risks of the digital era, this event addresses challenges from the perspective of inclusive social development, considering digital inclusion as essential to avoid increasing inequality and as a tool to help close gaps in various areas of social development by leveraging technological advances, especially in social policy and social protection.

The 2024 Pact for the Future highlights the urgent need for a new social contract based on justice, equity, and sustainability, recognizing both the potential of digital technology to foster inclusive social development and the risk of deepening inequalities if equitable access is not ensured. As part of the VI Meeting of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Korea-ECLAC 2025 project, this side event aims to contribute to this reflection. In a context of accelerated digital transformation that profoundly impacts lifestyles, production models, and social relationships—especially in regions like Latin America and the Caribbean—digital inclusion is emphasized as a key tool to close social gaps through innovative public policies, particularly in the field of social protection.

Objective

The event aims to strengthen the exchange of experiences and lessons learned regarding the challenges of digital transformation for inclusive social development and especially for inequality in the region. 

Methodology

Following an initial presentation of the main messages from the document “Digital Inclusion and Inequality: A Growing Challenge for Inclusive Social Development” (in press), prepared under the ECLAC-Korea Project, a first round of panelist interventions will take place in a roundtable format. Each panelist will have 10 minutes to speak. If time permits, a second round of closing remarks will follow, along with a few audience questions.

Suggested guiding questions for the interventions include: What risks exist if digital transformation advances without an inclusion strategy? What public policies have proven effective in promoting digital inclusion in highly unequal contexts? How can digital inclusion be integrated into social protection systems? What indicators should be used to measure the impact of digital inclusion on social development?

Practical information

Date and time: September 2, 2025, from 17:00 to 18:30 hrs.

The event is intended for government representatives, civil society members, and academics in the region. Limited capacity.

Languages: spanish and portuguese 

Event Registration Link
https://eclac.webex.com/weblink/register/r76211d5c4784075628d0f256bfe0a7f5
 

Preliminary programme 

Moderator: Andres Espejo, Economic Affairs Officer, Social Development Division, ECLAC

17:00-17:05  Welcome Remarks, Daniela Trucco, Senior Social Affairs Officer, Social Development Division, ECLAC 

17:05-17:20 Presentation of the Document “Digital Inclusion and Inequality: A Growing Challenge for Inclusive Social Development”, Amalia Palma, Senior Research Assistant in Social Affairs, ECLAC

17:20-18:10 Roundtable Discussion "Digital Inclusion and Inequality: Challenges for Social Protection Policy Strategies"

Interventions 

• Carlos Paris, Viceminister of Social Development, Paraguay
• Ana Veneroso, Programmes Coordinator ITU - International Telecommunication Union
• Alexandre Gonçalves de Amorim, President, Federal Service of Data Processing (Serpro)

18:10-18:25    Dialogue and audience questions
18:25–18:30   Closing remarks Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Director of the Social Development Division, ECLAC