Vincula LAC: Digital Skills for the Future

Boosting human talent and digital competencies in Latin America and the Caribbean

1- What is Vincula LAC?

Vincula LAC is a program promoted by the World Bank in collaboration with Coursera, designed to strengthen digital human talent in Latin America and the Caribbean, facilitating access to training and certification opportunities in key areas for the digital economy.  

The program's main objective is to develop digital competencies and soft skills, essential for the current and future labor market.  

Through 5,000 free accesses to the Coursera platform, participants will be able to obtain official certifications from the best universities and leading companies worldwide.  

Vincula LAC is committed to creating a more competitive, inclusive, and prepared region to face the challenges of digital transformation.

2- Program objectives:

• Develop digital talent in Latin America and the Caribbean, aligned with the new demands of the labor market.  
• Strengthen soft skills such as leadership, communication, and critical thinking.  
• Provide access to free training and certifications in strategic areas.  
• Foster the creation of a regional learning and collaboration network.  
• Contribute to closing digital gaps in the region.  

3- What does the program offer?

a) Academic training and certifications:

• 5,000 free accesses to Coursera for 6 months.  
• Courses and micro-credentials in key areas such as:
  • Critical thinking and creativity
  • Artificial intelligence and data analysis
  • Communication and leadership skills
  • Entrepreneurship and project management
  • Digital competencies for the global economy

b) Support spaces:

• Monthly webinars on best practices and digital trends.  
• Bi-weekly office hours for consultations and support.  
• Follow-up meetings with teams from country offices.  
• Progress and final report at the end of the program.  

c) Regional network and networking opportunities:

• Connection with professionals and leaders in the region.  
• Virtual spaces to share experiences and generate collaborations.  
• Access to exclusive sessions with experts in digital transformation.  

4- Calendar

5- Who can participate?

a) National and local governments of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.  

b) Application criteria:

• Institutional commitment to promote the program.  
• Clear strategy for the distribution and management of accesses.  
• Designation of a national team responsible for monitoring and follow-up.  

c) Selection of participants.

Applications will be evaluated considering:

• Institutional commitment and action plan.  
• Execution capacity and potential impact.  
• Prioritized sectors and focus on vulnerable populations.  
• Review the terms of reference here.

d) Redistribution of accesses.

Unused accesses will be reassigned to countries with greater demand and demonstrated commitment.  

6- Benefits for participants:

7- Application mechanisms

To apply for the program, you must send a commitment letter signed by the Head of the Digital Agency or related program between March 20 – May 16, 2025, to gmurillovelazque@worldbank.org. You can download the application letter here.  

8- Strategic partners

Together we can close gaps, create opportunities, and strengthen LAC's potential.