Underserved Communities

Rural America is underserved, not behind. Cyber policies must address the resource gap driving vulnerability below the Cyber Poverty Line.

According to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), “Digital equity is a reality in which all individuals and communities have the information technology skills and access needed for full and meaningful inclusion in their societies and economies.” Whether or not people realize it, work toward digital equity is already being carried out in every country around the world – and for leaders doing this important work, its application takes different forms depending on the needs of their communities. It’s human-centered work with an applied digital infrastructure bend.

Discover the exceptional mentors of the Digital Equity Accelerator 2023. These ten global leaders in digital inclusion are dedicated to promoting social justice and empowering participants to reach their full potential. From govtech enthusiasts to transformational coaches, they bring diverse expertise and a commitment to creating a future where no one is left behind. Learn more about these inspiring mentors who will guide, challenge, and connect participants to transformative opportunities and additional resources.

Explore the transformative power of digital inclusion strategies in unlocking the potential of 2.7 billion people affected by the digital divide. Join the Digital Equity Accelerator and global leaders for insightful conversations on how digitalization can accelerate progress towards the 2030 Development Goals and benefit key populations. Don’t miss the upcoming events on 21 June, 27 June, and 11 July 2023, discussing digital inclusion’s impact on global development, women and girls, and educational equity.

Today the Aspen Institute and HP Inc. announced the selection of ten not-for-profit organizations and NGOs in Malaysia, Mexico, and South Africa for the 2023 Digital Equity Accelerator (“Accelerator”). Each organization is working toward the digital inclusion of marginalized populations and, with the support of the Accelerator, poised to expand their reach and impact over the next six months. The Digital Equity Accelerator, an initiative of the Aspen Institute in collaboration with HP Inc., fuels social innovation by investing into local NGOs working to address social and economic inequalities that are exacerbated by unequal technology access and use around the world.

In 2022, the Digital Equity Accelerator set out to help address these injustices by pursuing a singular goal: to accelerate equity in the digital economy for underrepresented and marginalized populations worldwide. The Digital Equity Accelerator, an initiative of Aspen Institute, in collaboration with HP, fuels innovation and invests in non-profit leaders who are actively working to address the inequities that exist in technology access and use around the world.

There are dedicated groups accelerating digital equity for their communities around the world. Over the past four months, Aspen Digital has been training 7 groundbreaking nonprofits to scale their efforts to close the tech gap for marginalized and underserved populations. Get to know these outstanding organizations, and join us on October 7 for a virtual event to hear their stories.

In our effort to support communities working to close the digital divide on both national and regional scales, the Digital Equity Accelerator relies on a diverse network of industry leaders, who help our cohort further unlock their potential for impact. Check out the folks lending their expertise to the Accelerator as Mentors and Technical Experts, and join us in offering them a warm “hello”!

With over 170 phenomenal applications from around the world, getting down to seven members was an inspiring challenge, and we are so grateful to the dozens of organizations that took the time to share with us their groundbreaking projects. Please welcome the inaugural cohort of the Digital Equity Accelerator!

As we prepare to welcome the Digital Equity Accelerator’s first-ever cohort, we are thrilled to introduce a phenomenal group of leaders who will serve as our inaugural Advisory Council. Comprising leaders at the forefront of advancing equity in education, healthcare, and economic opportunity across the digital space, this diverse network serves as a brain trust to ensure that the Accelerator centers on and serves the communities most impacted by the digital divide.