BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
The Gender Digital Divide refers to women and girls lack of access to use and development of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs).
Though every person should have equal access to inclusive education that promotes understanding and use of innovative and accessible digital technologies, reports across the world confirm that the gender digital gap is marked at every corner of the globe. According to documents, 250 million fewer women online globally than men, and over 1.7 billion women not owning a mobile phone, the gender digital divide poses a threat to economic, social, and political progress.
When girls have equal opportunities and access to a quality and inclusive education, their risk of experiencing some forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) often decreases, their chances of completing school is higher and their ability to share their voices in their community can grow, which further promotes their empowerment in society. However, many developing and even developed countries are experiencing the digital divide poses- a challenge to building an inclusive digital economy.
The government of Ethiopia has developed and launched an inclusive national strategy, “The Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy” in 2020. Accordingly, the country is implementing various activities that lay the foundation to build a digitally enabled society and bring about inclusive and impactful digital development which is one of the basic elements for digital transformation. In response, even though a lot of works remain unfastened, encouraging activities, such as provision of digital IDs, conducting digital payments in various transactions (paying and receiving money through mobile platforms) among others, are progressing well.
Last week, a research report that evaluates and demonstrates the level of gender inclusion in the digital ecosystem was launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Ministry of Innovation and Technology reported. And according to the Ministry, the research conducted by the Telecommunication Development Office of the International Telecommunication Union, Ethiopia’s Information Communication Technology sector policies and strategies are gender-inclusive. As to the findings of the study, Ethiopia’s latest digital policies give due focus to women. Speaking on the occasion, Innovation and technology State Minister Huriya Ali said that the research findings bringing out by the International Telecommunication Union Development Bureau will serve as springboard to identify Ethiopia’s digital divide ecosystem, narrow the gap and; mainstream gender in the sector as well as craft new policies and strategies that respond to gender inclusion in the digital ecosystem.
The Ministry of Innovation and Technology is working aggressively to enhance the participation of women in the sector, and ensure the benefit in the digital ecosystem, she added. Director General of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava (PhD) also said that the research document issues suggest points and put forward recommendations that are crucial to enhance the participation of women in the digital ecosystem and directions for further actions.
It was also said that the Ministry of Innovation and technology, joining hands with various partners, is working round the clock to address the challenges of digital gap that are connected with age, gender, geographical location, digital literacy and other noticeable digital divide. Obviously, one of the advantages of digital developments is leveling the playing field and allowing people to have various opportunities that were difficult or impossible a few years ago. Technology opens up a world of opportunities for individuals, organizations, and countries.
We have witnessed that technology and digital advancements are amplifying and contributing to a number of socioeconomic challenges. One of these socioeconomic issues is the marginalization of certain parts of society, particularly women. According to reports released by the UN Women, 3.7 billion people globally do not have access to the internet; and half of them are evidently women. In some parts of the world, the digital gender divide has been shrinking, however, data shows it is growing in Africa.
This is especially true in Sub-Saharan African countries. According to FAO, despite Sub-Saharan Africa being one of the fastest-growing locations in terms of connectivity, fewer women are connected to the internet or own mobile phones, compared to men. Only 27 percent of women in Africa have access to the internet and only 15 percent of them can afford to use it. That means women are much less likely to benefit from digital services. Reports indicate that, in 2019, only 20.2 percent of Africa’s female population had online access, compared to 37.1 percent of men. Digital literacy, or the development of skills related to understanding technology and the ever-digitalizing world, is a notable priority related to empowering women and girls in ICT.
In addition to improving digital literacy, one effective approach to empowering girls and young women to engage on ICT issues is ensuring they have access to quality Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Presenting girls with opportunities in STEM provides the foundation, skills, and confidence for more girls to enter non-traditional fields of study and enable them to overcome negative stereotypes, while providing the essential means to thrive and serve as role models for other girls and young women.
Improving girls’ digital skills and enhancing their participation in ICT – and STEM fields more broadly also plays a critical role in reducing risks of Gender Based Violence (GBV), including that which is facilitated by technology and occurs in the form of online harassment and abuse and can lead to girls falling victim to sex trafficking. To this end, benefit girls and women from the technology and realize effective digital transformation, devising digital inclusive strategies and policies that allow everyone, regardless of any differences, gender, income, geographical location or the like disparities and ensuring the proper implementation of the approaches is of greater importance.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 9 MAY 2023
