National Plan for Digital Inclusion

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The National Plan for Digital Inclusion (plan national pour un numérique inclusif) in France is a comprehensive initiative launched by the French Government to ensure all citizens have access to digital technology.
What are the main aims and objectives?

The primary aim of the National Plan for Digital Inclusion in France is to ensure that all citizens have access to digital technology and can take advantage of its opportunities. The initiative is designed to bridge the digital divide by preparing French citizens for the digital age, giving them access to their rights and information digitally. Moreover, the plan sets several objectives including: providing support and training to 1.5 million people in topics relevant to digital literacy, achieving digital inclusion for at least one third of the French population over the next 10 years, and equipping a total of 4.5 million French citizens with basic digital skills. The government is also striving to make all administrative procedures digital, reflecting the broader objective of comprehensive digital transformation.

How does the program work?

The National Plan for Digital Inclusion contains several initiatives that are designed to bridge the digital divide amongst the general population and in the workforce:

Digital skills for all citizens

  • Training and reskilling people to develop basic digital skills and promote the use of technology.
  • Improve existing digital infrastructures.
  • Strengthening capacity-building for all citizens to enable participation in digital society.
  • Target support at vulnerable citizens such as jobseekers, the elderly and other disadvantaged societal groups.
  • Promote the use of PIX which is an online public service for self-evaluating your own digital competence.
  • Creating and promoting digital credentials for citizens on a national level.

Digital skills for the labor force

  • Providing consistent investment in upskilling digital skills.
  • Promoting the need for businesses to invest in digital skills training in order to benefit from economic spin-offs.
  • Building digital resilience with a particular focus on providing support to public sector employees and professionals engaged in the care sector.
  • Coordinating policy and implementation between local actors, stakeholders, and communities

Other initiatives

  • Modernizing existing education and vocational education and training (VET) systems.
  • Supporting institutions and students understand emerging skills required for the future.
  • Training initiatives for advanced digital skills in the ICT sector
  • The France DigiTruck program which provides free digital skills training to priority communities in remote areas via a solar-powered classroom.
What is the overall cost?

A total of €55 million is being mobilized to finance the plan. Of this funding €10 million is coming from the national government, €40 million from the private sector and local authorities, and €5 million from regional government.

How was it implemented?

The National Plan for Digital Inclusion was launched in September 2018 by Cedric O, the French State Secretary for Digital, as part of the French National Agency for the Cohesion of Territories (ANCT). The actions in the plan are launched within the framework of the 2030 targets put forward by the European Commisssion’s Digital Decade. The plan alaso operates within the context of the European Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition. The plan also sets out to support local authorities in developing digital inclusion strategies, with ANCT playing a key role in this process.

The plan was developed through a multi-stakeholder approach, involving the French government, private sector companies, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions. The government played a leading role in coordinating the efforts, while private sector companies provided technological expertise and resources. Non-profit organizations and educational institutions were crucial in reaching out to the targeted populations and providing digital skills training.

What impact has been measured?

There has been no comprehensive assessment of the National Plan for Digital Inclusion, however, a report in October 2021 found that France was losing momentum in the push for digital literacy. The report noted that there remain 13 million French people who have limited access to internet, including 6.7 million who have no access at all. It noted that France’s position in human capital has worsened due to a lower than average share of people possessing “above basic digital skills” and connectivity that is worse than the EU average.

What lessons can be learned?

The National Plan for Digital Inclusion identifies four key challenges that need to be addressed in implementing digital skills strategies:

  1. Reaching Remote Areas: Providing digital services to remote and rural areas is challenging due to infrastructural limitations. Despite efforts to ensure nationwide coverage, the digital divide between urban and rural areas still persists.
  2. Training Trainers: The plan faced difficulties in finding, training, and retaining enough skilled trainers to deliver digital literacy programs at the grassroots level.
  3. Internet Access: While the plan made strides in digital literacy and 5G readiness, ensuring affordable and reliable internet access for all remained a significant challenge.
  4. Digital Integration: The plan aims to integrate digital technologies into everyday life. However, cultural differences can make it difficult for these initiatives to penetrate vulnerable communities.

CURATED BY

Tom Hancock

Research Associate
Global Entrepreneurship Network
United Kingdom