Digital literacy

Developing tools to increase digital literacy of older persons

ESCAP Digital literacy toolkit for older persons

The ESCAP Digital Literacy Toolkit equips older persons and first-time users in Asia and the Pacific with the essential digital skills they need for everyday life. Developed under the project “Developing Tools to Increase Digital Literacy of Older Persons,” the toolkit was shaped by community-level needs assessments and pilot training with older people's associations in Cambodia, India, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Viet Nam, drawing on good practices from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The toolkit includes:

All materials are freely available, can be adapted to additional country contexts and languages upon request to ESCAP, and are released under a rights-based, gender-sensitive framework. Select an episode below to start learning.

Episodes

Episode 1:
Getting Started with Your Smartphone and the Internet
Episode 2:
Social Media and Communication Skills
Episode 3:
Information Skills – Searching Smart on the Internet
Episode 4:
Safety and Privacy Skills
Episode 5:
Online Services and Secure Transactions
Episode 3:
Information Skills – Searching Smart on the Internet

Guides

The Learner Guide and Trainer Guide are available for download in English, Khmer, Hindi, Lao and Vietnamese.

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Learner Guide: Digital Skills for Everyday Life

1 January 2026

A step-by-step companion for older learners, covering all five episodes with practice exercises, tips and reflection activities. Available in English, Khmer, Hindi, Lao and Vietnamese.

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Facilitating Digital Skills for All Ages: A Trainer Guide

12 March 2026

A comprehensive resource for trainers, facilitators and community workers delivering digital literacy training for older persons. Available in English, Khmer, Hindi, Lao and Vietnamese.

Blogs and Op-eds

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Jul 2026
Growing older, staying connected in the digital age
01
Oct 2025
Building a future-ready society so people can live long and age well
01
Oct 2024
Strengthening social health protection for health coverage for all ages

Latest News

29
Jun 2026
ESCAP launches a new video highlighting the benefits of intergenerational support
24
Apr 2026
Asia-Pacific governments endorse landmark Baku-Bangkok Declaration on advancing societies for all ages
21
Jan 2026
ESCAP launches survey to member States for the Fifth Asia-Pacific Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing