The objective of this project is to strengthen the capacity of government officials in target Asia-Pacific countries in special situations to develop innovative strategies for improving rural digital and transport connectivity for socio-economic resilience. To achieve this objective, the project will undertake national analytical studies on opportunities and challenges of rural infrastructure (digital and transport) connectivity, and propose actionable strategies to strengthen rural infrastructure connectivity, that will be considered at national and regional workshops, complemented by study tours to facilitate South-South cooperation and information sharing. At the end of the project, government officials in the target Asia-Pacific countries will have acquired sufficient skills to enable them to draft a strategy document actionable at the national level, with related components that promote regional cooperation. With a more in-depth understanding of the opportunities and challenges related to rural connectivity they will be better able to identify and engage concerned national and regional stakeholders in the development of the strategies. As a result, the project will contribute to strengthening the socioeconomic resilience of rural communities in the target countries. The project will be jointly implemented by the Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD), and the Transport Division (TD) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with partner organizations and national institutions.