CONECTADAS is a digital education program that supports women's empowerment and digital inclusion through technology and education. The program united more than 20 organizations to contribute to closing the digital and financial gap of women entrepreneurs, offering them technical assistance in the use of digital tools such as Whatsapp Business, digital marketing, digital inventories for their businesses, among others. The program has been a model of women empowerment, economic growth and employment generation based on technology.

After two years of joint work between USAID, TIGO and FUNDEMAS, the following results were obtained:

• 1,724 women entrepreneurs trained in digital tools (divided into two categories: the first of Tigo product vendors in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MYPIME), and the second with beauty product vendors of the BELCORP and VOGUE brands and other tractor companies that use Tigo services for their business processes).
• Growth of more than US$14 million in sales attributable to the program, through the beneficiaries' businesses.
• 826 new jobs generated in the participating MYPIMEs.
• Execution of 142 workshops, 3,029 individual technical assistance sessions and 254 group technical assistance sessions.
• Execution of 64 workshops on digital citizenship with the participation of more than 5,000 participants.
• 92 municipalities in El Salvador positively impacted through the program "In many cases, CONECTADAS participants represent the only help for their households. They are the ones who provide food for their families and who maintain the illusions and hopes of the family. For this reason, a woman with a job represents a united family that does not need to seek irregular migration", said Matt Rees, deputy director of USAID El Salvador.

Tomás Regalado, President of FUNDEMAS, emphasized that "at FUNDEMAS we believe that the best version of El Salvador is possible thanks to the involvement of companies in the economic, social and environmental development of the country.

This project brings together important players in economic growth: USAID, TIGO and FUNDEMAS, and shows us that we can make important changes in our environment. Women represent an important link in society and economic development, so CONECTADAS is a living example of what salvadoran women can achieve and above all the importance of working together for the same goal".

"It is inspiring to see the digital transformation and economic growth that the program provides to entrepreneurs in our country, bringing better opportunities through digital education, fulfilling our purpose of building digital highways that connect people, improve their lives and develop our communities", said Edgard Grande, CEO Tigo El Salvador.

These results would not have been possible without the support of the companies, media and institutions that committed to support salvadoran businesswomen and form a great alliance. The companies that participated in the project are: Banco Agrícola, Belcorp through Fundación Belcorp, Sistema Fedecrédito, La Constancia, Grupo SURA, Holcim, CAMARASAL, UN Women and VOGUE.

The following media also supported the project: Canal 12, Canal 21, El Blog, Grupo Radio Stereo, La Prensa Gráfica, La Tribu FM, Diario El Mundo, Radio Corporación FM, Radio Punto 105, Diario El Salvador and Telecorporación Salvadoreña.

Translated by: A.M