Connected for Good: How Closing the Digital Divide Powers Social Impact

social enterprise Jun 16, 2025

Let's take a look at the technological barriers and the "Digital Divide" that many organizations and social enterprises face in various countries around the world.

I've lived and worked most of my previous career helping social enterprises in twenty-one different countries. I'd like to share some brief thoughts about overcoming the key constraints these social enterprises continue to face today in working toward the "common good."

TL;DR Summary

Core problem: Many social enterprises—especially in rural or low-resource settings—lack access to reliable internet, hardware, electricity, and digital training.
Why it matters: This digital gap prevents them from scaling, fundraising, delivering services, and achieving measurable impact.
Key solutions: Invest in infrastructure (like LEO-satellites), boost digital literacy programs, leverage low‑tech tools, and build multi‑sector partnerships.
Outcome: Closing the digital divide unlocks growth, inclusion, and sustainability for social ventures worldwide.

1. The Problem

Social enterprises are on a mission: to create impact while being sustainable. But in many parts of the world, they run into the same harsh truth—you can’t scale what you can’t connect.

Recent studies estimate there are still 2.6 billion people offline worldwide, mostly in low- and lower-middle-income countries (bpasjournals.com, sciencedirect.com, en.wikipedia.org, ispionline.it). For social enterprises operating in these contexts, the implications are profound:

Inconsistent or missing infrastructure: Spotty internet, unreliable electricity, and lack of modern devices create operational bottlenecks .
High costs: Data, hardware, and maintenance often eat into limited budgets. Even in Canada, for example, some rural households pay nearly $200/month for basic internet—making it unaffordable .
Low digital literacy: Even with access, many teams lack the training needed for tools—cloud platforms, mobile payments, or data collection software (en.wikipedia.org).
Usage and data divides: Owning a phone isn’t enough—usage, data competencies, and access to meaningful platforms also shape real impact (en.wikipedia.org).
Organizational capacity: Smaller social enterprises often don’t have the expertise or funding to implement and maintain digital solutions (sciencedirect.com).

This gap isn’t just about inconvenience—it deepens inequality. Communities miss out on education, financial inclusion, civic engagement, and even the chance to participate in the digital economy .

There are inspiring exceptions, of course—like Tech Herfrica, which provided mobile devices and training to rural women farmers across Africa (en.wikipedia.org). But such efforts are the exception, not the rule. Most social enterprises report that even if they use tech for fundraising or program delivery, they often "juggle" between tech-enabled growth and grassroots realities.

Left unchecked, this divide means well-intentioned missions stall, solutions stay local, and the capable remain disconnected. Social entrepreneurs feel this sharply, as the tools that could amplify their impact remain just out of reach.

2. Strategies & Solutions

A. Strengthen Infrastructure

1. Embrace LEO satellites & alternative connectivity
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems—like Starlink or Telesat—are lowering the cost of high-speed internet in remote areas (technologymagazine.com, arxiv.org). Governments and nonprofits can subsidize or bulk-purchase access for local SE hubs or community centers.

2. Make broadband an essential right
Countries like Canada are reclassifying broadband as a basic service, subsidizing rural rollout and exploring low-cost data plans (en.wikipedia.org). Social enterprises can benefit by facilitating community-wide access in their hubs.

3. Public Wi‑Fi and shared tech spaces
Public institutions—libraries, schools, clinics—can host tech hubs with reliable power and internet. The Indian Common Service Centres model trained 47 million citizens in rural digital literacy that could be adapted globally (en.wikipedia.org).

B. Expand Digital Literacy

1. Offer tailored, localized training
Workshops and “train-the-trainer” formats in local languages help build comfort with digital tools . Pair this with mentoring to support adoption and retention.

2. Support peer networks and coaches
Establish peer support groups where social entrepreneurs share lessons. This keeps momentum and decentralizes tech knowledge.

3. Use apprenticeship models for digital upskilling
In North America, apprenticeship programs (like those for Latino workers) combine paid work with AI/data tech training—an ideal model to replicate in social impact zones .

C. Adopt Appropriate Tech

1. Choose low-tech or mobile-first tools
SMS surveys and offline-capable apps deliver results in low-connectivity areas. They’re cheaper, simpler, and often more reliable.

2. Build platforms—don’t just build apps
Embrace the "platform mindset": design scalable tools that local changemakers can adopt and adapt—moving from single-use to reusable systems .

3. Prioritize open-source & shared tools
Using open-source options reduces cost, boosts customization, and builds interoperability across social enterprises.

D. Forge Partnerships & Collaborations

1. Public-private partnerships (PPP)
Collaborate with internet providers to extend rural network reach; governments can offer subsidies or tax breaks in return. A PPP in India connected millions under the Digital India campaign (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).

2. Corporate sponsorships for mobile devices and software
Companies can donate or subsidize devices and software licenses—as part of CSR.

3. Build multi-sector digital ecosystems
Engage NGOs, governments, universities, and tech firms to co-create digital hubs that include funding, infrastructure, training, and technical support.

E. Design for Inclusion

1. 5A framework: go beyond access
Ensure digital adoption journey covers: Access, Availability, Adequacy (quality), Acceptability (cultural fit), and Ability (capacity to use) (frontiersin.org).

2. Include underserved groups intentionally
Older adults, people with disabilities, rural populations should be consulted in UI/UX design to prevent exclusion (www3.weforum.org).

3. Monitor and iterate based on feedback
Use data to evaluate digital inclusion—not just tech deployment. Metrics should include usage, satisfaction, and impact.

F. Secure Funding & Policy Support

1. Advocate for dedicated digital equity funds
Social impact investors and public funds need to earmark resources specifically for digital capacity building.

2. Incentivize blended finance solutions
Mix grants with impact- or outcome-based loans to finance digital infrastructure and training—critical for early-stage social enterprises.

3. Push for inclusive tech policies
Ensure regulations support low-data tools, subsidize rural access, and avoid high licenses that raise barriers to entry.

3. Why This Works

Strategy Pillar	Impact
Infrastructure + connectivity	Enables scale, consistent service delivery, and access to global networks
Digital literacy	Empowers teams to own their digital tools and innovate locally
Appropriate tech	Ensures solutions match context and availability
Partnerships	Amplifies resources and creates support ecosystems
Inclusive design	Prevents new vulnerabilities and ensures equity
Policy support	Lays groundwork for systemic, long-term change

4. Real‑World Example: Tech Herfrica 🎯

Tech Herfrica—a Nigerian NGO—supplied mobile devices, e-commerce platforms, and digital training to rural women farmers across six African countries (en.wikipedia.org, bpasjournals.com, en.wikipedia.org, nottingham-repository.worktribe.com). Outcomes included:

Up to a 50% boost in incomes
Expanded access to markets
Strengthened financial knowledge

It’s a blueprint: blend infrastructure, skills development, tech, and local leadership into a coherent program.

5. Next Steps for Social Enterprises

Map digital readiness: audit access, literacy, and tools within your team and community.
Design an action plan: combine low-cost tech solutions, targeted training, and advocacy.
Build partnerships: connect with tech providers, NGOs, government agencies.
Fund strategically: apply for grants, impact investments, and policy-backed funding.
Iterate and scale: use data to refine, improve, and expand your digital ecosystem.