# Vignette 3: Argentina's ConVos Network
"She owned a store selling school supplies, but she also supported her neighbors with things they needed to do on her computer," explains Lorena Moscovich, Head of Experimentation at UNDP Argentina's Accelerator Lab. This observation of informal community support would later become the foundation for Con Vos (With You), a network connecting local stores to promote digital inclusion across two Argentine municipalities.
These neighborhood stores have long served as technology gateways in communities, offering new services on a small scale that eventually become essential, such as the historic public telephone, the photocopier, the printer, or the mobile credit top-up. Similarly, today, these nearby stores can help bridge the digital divide by providing community members with guided access to essential online services.
Recognizing this potential, the team focused on understanding these existing relationships rather than creating new structures. They discovered that neighborhood stores already served as trusted local hubs where residents sought help with various tasks. Store owners like Sabrina assisted neighbors who had computers or phones but lacked confidence in completing government paperwork online, charging small, affordable fees for their services.
The team mapped deeper patterns in how communities were already addressing digital exclusion. During the pandemic, they found similar informal support networks emerging across the country – shopkeepers, community leaders, and neighbors helping others navigate online services. This revealed an opportunity to build on these organic relationships.
"But as we got to know the sector, we realized we had to build legitimacy step by step," explains Lorena. The team started small, partnering with the municipality of Concepción del Uruguay to create a pilot network of neighborhood stores offering digital support services. They provided training, promotional materials and oversight while testing different incentive models.
The initiative expanded as different stakeholders recognized its value. What began with one shopkeeper was formalized as 'Con Vos'[\[1\]](#endnote-1) and caught the attention of federal innovation authorities, enabling expansion to Fray Mamerto Esquiú municipality (Figure 18). Store owners received training and support to assist neighbors with online procedures like applying for social security documents, registering for government subsidies, and accessing municipal health programs, while residents gained trusted local access points for digital public services.
The results demonstrated the power of building on existing community relationships. The network saved residents significant travel time and costs, with women (who make up 60% of users) saving more distance than men (7.8 kilometers versus 5.3 kilometers on average in Fray Mamerto Esquiú[\[2\]](#endnote-2)). For store owners, 70% gained new customers. Most importantly, it strengthened social fabric by recognizing and amplifying the crucial role neighborhood businesses play in community wellbeing.[\[3\]](#endnote-3)
{% hint style="info" %}
#### **Key takeaways:**
* **Understand technology diffusion patterns:** Learn how communities have historically adopted technologies, how these technologies enable new services and address specific community needs
* **Map what's already working:** Look for existing relationships and informal support networks that can be strengthened rather than creating entirely new structures
* **Build legitimacy gradually:** Start with small pilots that demonstrate value and build trust before expanding
* **Connect across levels:** Link grassroots solutions to institutional support while maintaining their community-driven nature
* **Design for mutual benefit:** Ensure the model creates value for all participants, from residents to small businesses to government agencies
{% endhint %}
***
## Notes
1. See the project page (UNDP Accelerator Lab Argentina, 2022a). [↑](#endnote-ref-1)
2. The distance saved is calculated based on three points: the person’s home, the office they should’ve visited, and the nearby store where they did the errand. The distance saving is the difference between the distance to the store and the distance to the office. [↑](#endnote-ref-2)
3. For a comprehensive evaluation, see Moscovich et al. (2022). [↑](#endnote-ref-3)
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