Whether it is accessing healthcare, education and financial services, the internet provides access to critical information and services and supports livelihoods.
It is not just a matter of convenience but a key driver of economic and social opportunity. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the primary – and often only – means of accessing the internet is on a mobile device. However, in an increasingly connected world, women are being left behind.
The Mobile Gender Gap
Despite increases in internet access, a significant and persistent digital gender gap exists. Across low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) women are 15% less likely than men to use mobile internet. Of the 785 million women who are still not using mobile internet in LMICs, around 60% live in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Women in these regions are still the least likely to use mobile internet compared to men, with gender gaps of 31% and 32%, respectively.
The mobile gender gap is not going to close on its own. Its root causes are driven by a complex set of social, economic and cultural factors that result in women experiencing barriers to mobile ownership and use including affordability, knowledge and skills, relevance, access and safety and security concerns. Addressing these barriers will be critical to ensuring women and their families can reap the full benefits of connectivity.
The need for further action
We know that setting clear targets and taking informed, targeted action that focus on the key barriers women face makes a difference. There are organisations across the connectivity ecosystem implementing initiatives to help bridge this gap. Through our Connected Women Commitment Initiative, for instance, more than 50 mobile operators have made formal commitments with targets to accelerate women’s digital and financial inclusion and have collectively reached over 70 million women since it was launched in 2016.
But greater focus and investment by all stakeholders is needed to really move the needle and accelerate progress. Further action is required by policymakers, industry, the development community and other stakeholders working together to better measure, understand and address women’s needs and the barriers they face.
In an effort to close the gender digital divide, the Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) is a five-year $60.5 million digital inclusion program announced by the White House in March 2023. It is a joint effort between USAID and the Gates Foundation, managed by CARE, Global Digital Inclusion Partnership and the GSMA Foundation. WiDEF will identify, directly fund, and accelerate investment in proven solutions to close the gender digital divide – including women-led solutions, products, and tools – thereby improving women’s livelihoods, economic security, and resilience. This includes a current round of technical assistance support open for large private sector enterprises to help scale proven solutions focussed on closing the gender digital divide.
Empowering women to realise their full potential
It is clear that action and strategic investment are essential to drive change on the required scale. WiDEF and similar initiatives will help to open the door to help drive a more inclusive digital economy. By doing so, we’re not just connecting women to the internet, we’re helping empower women and providing access to information, services and life-enhancing opportunities.
Every woman, regardless of where she lives, should have the opportunity to thrive in the digital age. Together, we can build a connected world where every woman’s voice is heard, her potential realised, and her contribution celebrated. When and where women thrive, whole societies, businesses and economies thrive.
About the Author
Claire Sibthorpe is Head of Digital Inclusion at the GSMA. The GSMA is a global organisation focused on unifying the mobile ecosystem to drive innovation that promotes positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full potential of connectivity, enabling people, industries, and societies to thrive.
Featured image: Adobe
