Data powers development and is the fuel of emerging technologies which are the driving the global digital revolution and redefining the global future. Data offers a range of new opportunities to break down existing barriers to economic development and social inclusion and to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, rural economies located specially in the Global South, risk being left behind since vast datasets and robust data ecosystems are critical for emerging technologies such as AI-driven solutions. As a response to both the promise and the challenges of digital transformation in rural economies in the Global South, the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) developed the "Unlocking Rural Development through Data and Emerging Technologies in the Global South", an online course focusing on how data can leverage initiatives to put emerging technologies into practice for sustainable rural development, aiming to bridge the digital divide by ensuring no one is left behind in the current landscape. While emerging technologies hold immense potential for boosting productivity and improving livelihoods, their benefits have so far been concentrated in large-scale and high-income settings, which is a key barrier to the effective development and use of emerging technologies at a local level. This course relies on data principles and on emerging technologies to leverage local data and innovation for inclusive growth in rural areas, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and social justice in rural communities.