Inclusive digital literacy method using circular economy principles – seeking partners

We are a multidisciplinary team from the TEDECO unit at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, looking for partners with direct contact and experience working with digitally vulnerable populations—people with low or no prior digital skills—interested in implementing and adapting a proven methodology for basic digital literacy with a territorial and inclusive approach.

Our TechPeopleCare methodology enables individual, self-paced learning through a step-by-step program tailored for those starting from scratch. It has been successfully deployed in diverse settings (international, rural, urban, and European), among:

• Older adults (Spain and France)

• Migrants (Spain and the Netherlands)

• People in vulnerable socio-economic situations

• Rural communities (Spain and El Salvador)

• Youth, particularly young women (Kenya)

This model is embedded in a circular approach through the use of Points of Digital Inclusion (PIDs): spaces equipped with refurbished devices that rotate between territories, maximizing the life cycle of digital equipment and promoting resource efficiency.

We aim to reduce territorial digital divides, especially in structurally disadvantaged regions, by supporting the creation of local capacity and promoting inclusive access to basic digital skills training. The methodology fosters the development of local ecosystems that can scale and sustain the impact over time.

We are seeking partners from different countries or regions who are interested in:

• Implementing our methodology to facilitate digital inclusion at the local level

• Promoting skills development and community-based learning ecosystems

• Supporting knowledge exchange and capacity building among vulnerable groups and local stakeholders

Partners may contribute with:

• Local implementation and field-tested engagement strategies

• Research, monitoring, and evaluation for impact measurement

• Audiovisual localization and multilingual content adaptation

• Participatory and inclusive design approaches

• Strategic vision to embed digital inclusion in broader territorial or circular economy policies

We are especially interested in collaborating with stakeholders committed to addressing digital vulnerability, supporting regional cohesion, and advancing circular economy principles through knowledge, inclusion, and innovation.