Connecting Women at the Margins: Smart Partnerships Accelerating Inclusion in the Digital Economy (ITU)

Arguments

The audience appreciated the session and found it informative

Supporting facts:

• The audience enjoyed the session.

• The audience said they’ve learned quite a lot from the presentations.

Topics: Women Empowerment, Usage of Technology, Gender Digital Divide

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Men need to be included in discussions about women’s empowerment for it to be successful

Supporting facts:

• Men have influence over women’s use of resources and decisions at home and thus their active participation is crucial in these discussions

Topics: Women’s Empowerment, Gender Equality, Male Inclusion

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The transition to digital may lead to women losing the valuable aspect of communal learning and support

Supporting facts:

• Women often come together physically to share ideas and provide mutual support in the absence of formal collateral

Topics: Women Empowerment, Digital Transformation, Peer Learning

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Affordability of mobile phones remains a major challenge for women

Supporting facts:

• The cost of a mobile phone ($35-$40) is too high for many women in Kenya

Topics: Digital Inclusion, Affordability, Gender Gap

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Women entrepreneurs need more than just access to phones and internet

Supporting facts:

• The population served by female entrepreneurs may not have adequate internet access.

• Market readiness for e-commerce is crucial.

• Many women entrepreneurs run bootstrap businesses due to limited access to financing.

Topics: Women Entrepreneurship, E-commerce, E-Trade for Women

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Challenges faced by women entrepreneurs include lack of funding, high interest rates, and lack of collateral

Supporting facts:

• Most women entrepreneurs are running bootstrapped businesses due to limited access to venture capital, angels investors and debt financing.

• These constraints hamper their business’s profitability and scalability.

Topics: Women Entrepreneurship, Funding, Interest Rates, Collateral

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Report

The session on women’s empowerment and technology was highly appreciated by the audience. They found it to be valuable and learned a lot from the presentations. The positive sentiment emphasized the impact of the session on the audience’s understanding and knowledge about the topic.

One notable aspect was the personal experiences shared by audience members who have worked with women in Kenya. They highlighted the importance of business training and group lending in promoting women’s empowerment. This personal experience added credibility and authenticity to the discussion.

An interesting argument put forth in the session was the need to include men in discussions about women’s empowerment. It was argued that men have influence over women’s use of resources and decision-making at home. Therefore, their active participation in these discussions is crucial for the success of women’s empowerment initiatives.

However, concerns were raised regarding the transition to digital technologies. It was argued that as women often come together physically to share ideas and provide mutual support, the shift to digital platforms may lead to the loss of the valuable aspect of communal learning and support.

This negative sentiment highlights the potential drawback of the digital transformation in women’s empowerment initiatives. Affordability of mobile phones remains a major challenge for women in Kenya. The supporting fact that the cost of a mobile phone is prohibitively high for many women underscores the importance of addressing this issue to ensure equal access to technology for women.

One noteworthy observation was the speaker’s effort to dispel myths surrounding women’s ownership of mobile phones in Kenya. The fact that the speaker refuted the claim that women need their husbands’ permission to own mobile phones showcased the effort to challenge traditional gender norms and promote women’s independence and agency.

To address the affordability challenge, it was suggested that promoting affordable access to mobile phones should be a priority. The supporting fact that many women in Kenya cannot afford mobile phones signals the need for affordable options or installment payment methods to ensure that women have equal access to this essential technology.

Women entrepreneurs face several challenges such as lack of funding, high interest rates, and the lack of collateral. The fact that most women entrepreneurs run bootstrap businesses due to limited access to financing sheds light on the hardships they face.

These challenges not only impact their profitability but also hinder the scalability of their businesses. A positive sentiment emerged from the argument that decisions about women entrepreneurs should not be made without their input. The presence of an entrepreneur from Uganda representing women entrepreneurs in the discussion highlighted the importance of including the voices and perspectives of women in decision-making processes.

In conclusion, the session on women’s empowerment and technology received positive feedback from the audience. Personal experiences, arguments for including men, concerns about the digital transition, affordability challenges, and the struggles faced by women entrepreneurs were discussed. The need to challenge gender norms, promote affordable access to technology, and ensure women’s participation in decision-making processes were major takeaways from the session.

Arguments

Aïchatoun Toure is an advocate and beneficiary of the E-Trade for Women initiative

Supporting facts:

• Aisha was selected to be part of E-trade’s first master class while her business was only 8 months old

• She has leveraged the network of female entrepreneurs fostered by the initiative

Topics: E-Trade for Women initiative, Women in Tech, Female Entrepreneurship

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The E-Trade for Women initiative has empowered Aïchatoun Toure to tackle business challenges and spearhead digital transformation initiatives

Supporting facts:

• Aïchatoun has used the initiative’s resources to meet and learn from other female entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds

Topics: Business Challenges, Digital Transformation, E-Trade for Women initiative

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Aïchatoun Toure uses Design Thinking in her business and sharing this knowledge with others

Supporting facts:

• She first learned about Design Thinking through a training session at E-Trade for Women’s master class

• Aïchatoun now gives training sessions in her home country on Design Thinking

Topics: Design Thinking, Education, Women Empowerment

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Report

Aïchatoun Toure is an advocate and beneficiary of the E-Trade for Women initiative. She was selected to be part of E-trade’s first master class when her business was only 8 months old, highlighting her exceptional potential and the recognition she received from the initiative.

The initiative has played a vital role in Aïchatoun’s journey to success by providing her with access to a network of like-minded female entrepreneurs. This network has been invaluable, allowing her to learn from and collaborate with women from various backgrounds and industries.

By leveraging this network, she has overcome challenges and grown her business exponentially. The initiative has also empowered Aïchatoun to spearhead digital transformation initiatives within her industry, positioning her as a leader. Through the E-Trade for Women initiative, Aïchatoun has acquired new skills and knowledge, particularly in Design Thinking.

She now shares this expertise by conducting training sessions in her home country, further empowering other women and entrepreneurs. Aïchatoun’s story demonstrates the power of empowering women in business and the positive impact it has on individuals, communities, and economies as a whole.

Arguments

Women in refugee camps face socio-cultural barriers to engage in digital entrepreneurship

Supporting facts:

• Only two women in ten in Kenyan refugee camps have completed formal education

• The patriarchal society expects women to be homemakers, limiting their opportunities to engage in professional work

• Women have limited decision-making power in their communities

Topics: Refugee camps, Women Entrepreneurs, Digital Entrepreneurship, Socio-cultural barriers

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The REMI Program employs a multi-stakeholder approach to support marginalized groups and bridge the digital divide

Supporting facts:

• The REMI Program collaborates with humanitarian actors such as the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, and the UNHCR to address basic needs.

• They work closely with government bodies to tackle policy, regulatory, and documentation challenges.

• Social enterprises help them to address both supply and demand aspects of the market.

• They also work with local leaders and the community to overcome local socio-economic barriers.

• The program has partnered with business support organizations like the Chamber of Commerce to provide job opportunities for trained individuals.

Topics: REMI Program, Multi-stakeholder Approach, Digital Divide

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It’s possible to unlock the economic potential of women and bridge the digital divide.

Supporting facts:

• The work done in a difficult context shows that it’s possible to unlock women’s economic potential and bridge digital divide.

Topics: Economic empowerment of women, Digital divide

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Giving influence and power to women can create a significant change.

Supporting facts:

• The story of a small bat shows that even a small act can make a difference, the same is true for empowering women.

Topics: Women empowerment

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Report

Women living in Kenyan refugee camps face significant socio-cultural barriers that hinder their ability to engage in digital entrepreneurship. These barriers include limited access to education, traditional gender expectations, and a lack of decision-making power within their communities. According to supporting facts, only two out of every ten women in these camps have completed formal education.

Additionally, the patriarchal society expects women to primarily fulfill domestic roles, limiting their opportunities to participate in professional work. Moreover, women have limited decision-making power in their communities, further exacerbating their challenges. To address these obstacles, the RUMI programme has been implemented to promote equality of opportunity for women.

It aims to overcome the associated challenges by implementing measures such as lowering enrollment criteria specifically for women, as well as assigning women-only mentors and trainers. Additionally, the programme collaborates with local leaders to generate awareness and support within the community for these entrepreneurial endeavours.

It also works in partnership with other organizations to offer childcare services specifically catering to the needs of young mothers within the refugee camps. However, despite the efforts of the RUMI programme, several obstacles still hinder equal access to digital entrepreneurship.

Infrastructure issues, including limited access to the internet and electricity in the refugee camps, pose a significant challenge. Moreover, some women lack the necessary identity documents required to access digital platforms, adding to their difficulties. Another initiative, the REMI programme, employs a multi-stakeholder approach, aiming to support marginalized groups and bridge the digital divide.

The programme collaboratively works with key humanitarian actors such as the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, and the UNHCR. This collaboration is multifaceted and involves addressing basic needs, working with government bodies to tackle policy and regulatory challenges, and leveraging social enterprises to address both supply and demand aspects of the market.

Furthermore, the REMI programme actively engages with local leaders and the community to overcome local socio-economic barriers. Through its collaboration with business support organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, the programme also strives to provide job opportunities for individuals who have received training.

Collaboration, rather than competition, is emphasised as vital for the success of these initiatives. Boru Halkano, a notable figure, stresses the importance of different actors working together. Despite initial resistance and skepticism, the multi-stakeholder approach has proven successful and is now regarded as a role model for implementation in a refugee setting.

Overall, the work done in a challenging context demonstrates the potential to unlock economic empowerment for women and bridge the digital divide. Notably, it reveals that even small acts can make a significant difference in empowering women. It is emphasised that different actors must collaborate and synergise in order to achieve these goals.

The expanded summary highlights the significance of empowering women, illustrating its positive impact and potential to bridge the digital divide.

Arguments

There is a need to close the digital divide and integrate women and girls into the digital economy

Supporting facts:

• The session is organised by AIF, GSMA, ITC and ITU, focused on supporting women’s inclusion in the digital economy.

• She identifies the need for audience engagement in discussing the challenges of women’s digital inclusion.

Topics: digital divide, digital transformation, women entrepreneurs

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Women entrepreneurs have a key role to play in digital transformation and development

Supporting facts:

• Panelists include women entrepreneurs like Aisha Tintoure, CEO of CoDesign Mali, and Naomi Nwanya, CEO of Nomayo Jewelry and Authentic Crafts in Zambia. These women are using digital platforms to expand their businesses and contribute to social development.

Topics: women entrepreneurs, digital transformation, development

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Dunola Oladapo is hopeful for more opportunities for women entrepreneurs

Topics: women, entrepreneurs, tech

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Dunola enjoys sharing her experiences as a woman in tech and as a female entrepreneur

Topics: women, tech, entrepreneurship

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Report

The session, organised by AIF (Alliance for the Internet of Things Innovation), GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association), ITC (International Trade Centre), and ITU (International Telecommunication Union), is focused on promoting women’s inclusion in the digital economy and closing the digital divide.

The event brings together various organizations and individuals to discuss and support women’s participation in the digital economy. One of the main arguments put forward is the need to close the digital divide and integrate women and girls into the digital economy.

This is seen as essential for achieving gender equality and reducing inequalities. The session emphasizes the importance of collective efforts from different organizations and individuals to tackle the gap in the digital divide. Inclusive discussions are seen as necessary to address the challenges and barriers women face in accessing and participating in the digital economy.

Panelists at the event include women entrepreneurs such as Aisha Tintoure, CEO of CoDesign Mali, and Naomi Nwanya, CEO of Nomayo Jewelry and Authentic Crafts in Zambia. These women are using digital platforms to expand their businesses and contribute to social development.

Their success stories highlight the important role that women entrepreneurs can play in digital transformation and development. It is argued that by providing more opportunities and support for women entrepreneurs, the digital economy can be a catalyst for economic growth and empowerment.

Dunola Oladapo, a female entrepreneur, expresses optimism for more opportunities for women entrepreneurs. As a woman in tech and a female entrepreneur, she values sharing her experiences and is grateful for events like this that provide a space for women to express themselves and engage with others.

The support and platform provided by the event organizers and the panel are acknowledged and appreciated by Dunola. Overall, the event aims to promote women’s inclusion in the digital economy and close the digital divide. It highlights the key role that women entrepreneurs play in digital transformation and development.

By providing a space for women to share their experiences and engage in inclusive discussions, the event hopes to drive greater gender equality and empower women in the digital era.

Arguments

CETE’s partnership with the International Union of Telecommunications has led to fruitful activities in Haiti

Supporting facts:

• Joint activities include training for young female entrepreneurs in digital marketing and web development

• A digital summer school was organised covering topics such as artificial intelligence and mobile application development

Topics: partnership, technology, entrepreneurship, ITU

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The training programs have far-reaching positive impacts for the girls involved

Supporting facts:

• Trained entrepreneurs have successfully positioned their businesses and increased their sales

• 200 girls benefited from training in two remote regions

• Some girls have started companies or received internships at local companies after the training

Topics: training, skills development, girls in tech

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Report

A fruitful partnership between CETE (Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has resulted in positive outcomes in Haiti. The collaboration has focused on empowering young female entrepreneurs and bridging the digital divide through various joint activities, including training programs and a digital summer school.

These training programs have specifically targeted skills in digital marketing and web development, essential for success in today’s digital landscape. The aim is to equip young female entrepreneurs with the necessary tools to effectively promote and expand their businesses. In addition, a digital summer school was organized, covering topics such as artificial intelligence and mobile application development, to enhance participants’ understanding of emerging technologies and improve their digital literacy and technological capabilities.

The impact of these training programs has been significant, with trained entrepreneurs reporting increased sales and improved positioning in the market. Two hundred girls from remote regions in Haiti also benefited from the training, paving the way for future economic opportunities.

Some of these girls have even gone on to start their own companies or secure internships with local businesses, demonstrating the practicality and real-world application of the skills they acquired. However, there is still a pressing need to expand these training initiatives to more communities, particularly in marginalized regions that face structural challenges and limited access to education.

By addressing these issues, the partnership between CETE and ITU can continue bridging the digital divide, promoting inclusive development and reducing educational inequalities in Haiti. In conclusion, the partnership between CETE and ITU has successfully empowered young female entrepreneurs and advanced digital literacy in Haiti.

The training programs have proven to be effective in enhancing business success and providing a pathway to economic growth. However, it is crucial to address the accessibility and educational inequalities that persist, in order to ensure that all communities benefit from these initiatives.

By doing so, Haiti can achieve a more inclusive and equitable digital future.

Arguments

The SheTrades initiative supported by AIF has been instrumental in helping her business grow by providing access to markets and training in digital skills

Supporting facts:

• As an MSME in Zambia, the biggest challenge was access to markets

• Through SheTrades, her business received comprehensive training including e-commerce value chain and export readiness

• SheTrades connected her business with buyers and large e-commerce platforms, providing one-on-one interactions with the founders and CEOs

• Empowered with digital skills, she has seen an increase in her business’ sales revenues and has been able to enter international markets

Topics: SheTrades initiative, AIF support, MSME, digital skills, e-commerce, Zambia

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Access to digital economy and digital payment technology is crucial for women entrepreneurs.

Supporting facts:

• Internet access quality and speed is essential for trading online, especially in least developed countries like Zambia.

• Many women entrepreneurs lack access to bank accounts, and credit or debit cards, crucial for digital payments.

• There is a need for methods like PayPal enabling smooth online payments.

Topics: Digital Economy, Digital Payments, Online Trade, Women Entrepreneurship

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Nyawa Naomi believes in empowering marginalized and rural women through digital literacy training skills.

Supporting facts:

• She works a lot with women in marginalized communities and rural areas.

• She believes it’s not enough to just provide them with laptops and cell phones if they don’t know how to use them.

Topics: Digital Literacy, Women Empowerment

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Report

The SheTrades initiative, supported by AIF, plays a vital role in helping women entrepreneurs in Zambia overcome obstacles and achieve business growth. One of the major challenges faced by these entrepreneurs is access to markets. However, through SheTrades, businesses receive comprehensive training covering various aspects of the e-commerce value chain and export readiness.

This training equips them with the necessary skills to navigate the digital landscape and effectively market their products. Furthermore, SheTrades connects these women entrepreneurs with buyers and large e-commerce platforms, enabling them to have one-on-one interactions with prominent figures such as founders and CEOs.

This direct engagement with industry leaders not only provides valuable guidance and mentorship but also helps establish crucial professional partnerships. As a result of the training and market access facilitated by SheTrades, women entrepreneurs witness significant improvements in their businesses.

Equipped with digital skills, they report an increase in sales revenues and successfully enter international markets. This demonstrates the immense potential of digital trade in expanding business opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Access to the digital economy and digital payment technology is of utmost importance for women entrepreneurs.

In many cases, these women lack basic financial infrastructure such as bank accounts and credit or debit cards, which are essential for digital payments. To address this issue, establishing methods like PayPal that enable smooth and secure online transactions is crucial.

Bridging the digital divide and ensuring women’s financial inclusion are essential steps towards empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth. Nyawa Naomi, a prominent advocate for women’s empowerment, emphasizes the significance of digital literacy training for marginalized and rural women.

Recognizing that merely providing them with laptops and cell phones is insufficient, Naomi believes that interventions are required to enable these women to effectively utilize digital tools. By equipping them with the necessary digital literacy skills, these women can transform their livelihoods and participate more actively in the digital economy.

Overall, the SheTrades initiative, along with the emphasis on access to the digital economy, digital payment technology, and digital literacy training, proves instrumental in empowering women entrepreneurs in Zambia. By addressing the barriers they face and providing them with the necessary support and resources, these women can thrive and contribute to the economic growth of their communities.

Arguments

Not all women micro-entrepreneurs own a phone.

Supporting facts:

• GSMA’s research was conducted in 10 different low- and middle-income countries across Africa and Asia.

• There were significant gender gaps among micro-entrepreneurs.

Topics: Women’s digital inclusion, Mobile usage, Entrepreneurship

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Women micro-entrepreneurs are less likely to use mobile for their business.

Supporting facts:

• Women are 19% less likely than men to own a mobile phone, 17% less likely to own a smartphone.

• Women entrepreneurs prefer cash over digital transactions.

• Some women have a lack of confidence in digital skills.

• Women have safety, theft and security concerns.

Topics: Gender Gap, Entrepreneurship, Mobile usage

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Kindi’s NGO, the Center of Innovation in Technology and Entrepreneurship trains young female entrepreneurs in Haiti

Supporting facts:

• Kindi is the President of the Innovation Centre for Entrepreneurship Technologies

• They run a summer school for capacity building

• 200 marginalized girls have been trained so far to grow their businesses

Topics: Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Education, Technology, Capacity Building

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Women entrepreneurs need smartphones and digital skills to thrive in today’s digital world

Supporting facts:

• GSMA and its mobile operator partners are working on lowering the cost of smartphones and improving consumers’ ability to afford them

• GSMA partnered with ITU and EIF on capacity-building for policy makers on understanding mobile gender gaps

Topics: Women Empowerment, Digital Skills, Smartphones, Entrepreneurship

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Handset financing schemes can make phones more affordable for many people.

Supporting facts:

• In 2020, Safari Com started implementing device financing schemes with a small deposit and a daily rate of two cents per day making it affordable.

Topics: device financing scheme, mobile phone affordability, Safari Com

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Linking government payments to mobile money accounts can drive the adoption of mobile financial services.

Supporting facts:

• As part of Zambia’s digital transformation strategy, in order to register for government assistance, one needs to have a mobile money account, which has increased the uptake of these services.

• A similar strategy in Pakistan linked government IDs to benefits, resulting in increased identification and uptake of mobile services.

Topics: Zambia’s digital transformation strategy, mobile financial services, government assistance

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there should be more focus on removing barriers that women entrepreneurs face

Supporting facts:

• digital skills are a barrier

• social norms are barriers

• affordability is a barrier

Topics: women entrepreneurs, barriers, digital skills, social norms, affordability

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Report

The analysis highlights several key points regarding women micro-entrepreneurs and their use of mobile technology. Notably, there are significant gender gaps among micro-entrepreneurs, with women being less likely to own a mobile phone or use it for their business. This is a concerning finding as mobile technology plays a crucial role in providing access to resources, connectivity, and market opportunities.

One of the main barriers identified is the lack of digital skills among women micro-entrepreneurs. Research conducted by GSMA in 10 low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia revealed that one in five micro-entrepreneurs reported a lack of confidence in digital skills.

This indicates a need for initiatives that focus on enhancing digital skills among women entrepreneurs, empowering them to effectively utilise mobile technology for their businesses. Safety and security concerns also play a significant role in hindering the use of mobile technology among women micro-entrepreneurs.

Women have expressed concerns about fraud, theft, and fear of being contacted by strangers. Furthermore, these security concerns were found to be more prevalent in certain countries, such as Pakistan. Addressing these concerns, particularly through creating safer digital transaction platforms, can encourage women to use mobile technology for their business activities.

The analysis also emphasises the importance of internet-enabled phones for women entrepreneurs. Having the right kind of phone, such as an internet-enabled or smartphone, is considered significant in enabling women to fully utilise the digital opportunities available. This highlights the need for affordable smartphones, as well as initiatives by mobile operator partners to lower the cost of smartphones and improve consumer affordability.

Partnerships and collaborations between private sectors, governments, and NGOs are identified as crucial in addressing the challenges faced by women micro-entrepreneurs and closing the gender gaps in mobile technology adoption. For example, Safaricom partnered with Google to launch an entry-level 4G smartphone, which saw a significant percentage sold to women.

Additionally, GSMA, ITU, and EIF collaborated to create a capacity-building program for policymakers, promoting a better understanding of gender gaps and supporting efforts to close them. Furthermore, initiatives such as handset financing schemes and linking government payments to mobile money accounts have proved beneficial in increasing mobile phone affordability and driving the adoption of mobile financial services.

Safari Com implemented a device financing scheme with a small deposit and a daily rate, making phones more affordable for many people. Observations from the analysis also highlight the role of governments, private sectors, and development communities in improving internet adoption.

Efforts should be made to provide access to reliable and affordable internet services in order to bridge the digital divide and empower women entrepreneurs. In conclusion, the analysis underscores the significant gender gaps and barriers faced by women micro-entrepreneurs when it comes to the use of mobile technology for their businesses.

It highlights the need for initiatives that focus on enhancing digital skills, addressing safety and security concerns, and promoting access to affordable internet-enabled phones. Partnerships and collaborations between different sectors are essential in closing the gender gaps and empowering women entrepreneurs.

By removing barriers and creating supportive environments, women can fully harness the potential of mobile technology to thrive in today’s digital world.

Arguments

Public-private partnerships are crucial in addressing the gender-digital divide

Supporting facts:

• ITT co-founded the Equals Global Partnership to close the gender-digital divide alongside GSMA, ITC, UN Women, and UNU.

• Partnerships should involve governments, network operators, digital equipment and software developers, organizations such as GSMA, ITC, etc.

Topics: Public-private partnerships, Gender-digital divide

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Digital Inclusion for women is essential for them to reap benefits from the digital economy

Supporting facts:

• Hundreds and thousands of women currently lack access to digital platforms but want to become entrepreneurs and do important work.

• ICTs are a key driver of development and empowerment for girls and young women.

Topics: Digital Inclusion, Digital Economy

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ITU aims to continue driving impact through innovative partnerships and policy development

Supporting facts:

• ITU is working on improving access through gender mainstreaming policies, building digital skills and changing the mindset about the role of women in ICT

• ITU has joined forces with ITU-EIF project for gender mainstreaming in national policies

• ITU has published a handbook on gender mainstreaming for policymakers

Topics: Digital Inclusion, Gender Equality, Partnerships, ITU

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ITU is working on various initiatives to build digital skills and empower women through technology

Supporting facts:

• ITU guides governments on making digital skills training available for girls and women

• Programs for e-mentoring, e-skills badges have been developed

• Equals for Digital Skills Initiative is a joint effort of ITU, GSMA, EY and W4 providing free gender transformative digital capacity building trainings

Topics: Digital Skills, Education, Women Empowerment

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Sylvia Poll stresses on the importance of sharing good work, experiences, and lessons learned

Supporting facts:

• She mentioned being inspired by Boru’s passion

• She appreciated the practical example of Savaricom in Kenya shared by Pippa

Topics: Sharing experiences, Learning, Motivation

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Report

Public-private partnerships and digital inclusion for women play a crucial role in addressing the gender-digital divide and empowering girls and young women in the tech sector. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recognises the need for collective action towards sustainable solutions to empower girls through technology.

ITU has co-founded the Equals Global Partnership, alongside GSMA, ITC, UN Women, and UNU, with the aim of closing the gender-digital divide. These partnerships involve governments, network operators, digital equipment and software developers, and organisations such as GSMA and ITC.

By bringing together various stakeholders, ITU believes that public-private partnerships can effectively bridge the gender-digital divide by promoting collaboration and shared resources. Digital inclusion is essential for women to benefit from the digital economy. Currently, hundreds of thousands of women lack access to digital platforms but have the desire to become entrepreneurs and contribute to important work.

ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) serve as a key driver of development and empowerment for girls and young women. By providing access to digital platforms, women can participate in the digital economy and bridge the gender gap. ITU is leading initiatives to improve young girls’ and women’s access to decision-making processes that will shape their future.

They advocate for career opportunities in the tech sector for girls and young women, encouraging them to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers and enter the tech sector. By promoting gender equality in the tech industry, ITU aims to create an environment where women can thrive and contribute to innovative solutions.

ITU actively works on improving access through gender mainstreaming policies, building digital skills, and changing the mindset about the role of women in ICT. They have joined forces with the ITU-EIF project for gender mainstreaming in national policies and have published a handbook on gender mainstreaming for policymakers.

These initiatives aim to remove barriers and create equal opportunities for women in the ICT sector. Recognising the importance of representation, ITU celebrates the appointment of Ms. Doreen Bogdan as the first woman Secretary-General in its 150-year history. ITU is also part of the Equals Leadership Coalition, which champions female leadership in the tech sector.

These efforts aim to ensure that women have equal representation and decision-making power within the ITU and the wider tech industry. ITU is working on various initiatives to build digital skills and empower women through technology. They provide guidance to governments on making digital skills training available for girls and women.

Programs such as e-mentoring and e-skills badges have been developed to support their digital growth. Additionally, ITU collaborates with GSMA, EY, and W4 to provide free gender transformative digital capacity building training through the Equals for Digital Skills Initiative. ITU emphasises the importance of celebrating accomplishments and highlighting good work in the tech sector.

They organise initiatives like the Equals in Tech Awards, which recognise organisations that are making significant contributions towards helping girls and young women gain equal internet access, digital skills, and opportunities. Winning organisations benefit from increased recognition and more opportunities in the industry.

Sylvia Poll, during a panel discussion, stresses the value of sharing good work, experiences, and lessons learned. By sharing knowledge and expertise, individuals and organisations can inspire others and contribute to positive change in the tech sector. Despite challenges, events and panel discussions provide a platform to inspire and give hope to girls and young women looking to make an impact in the industry.

In conclusion, public-private partnerships, digital inclusion, and gender equality are crucial in addressing the gender-digital divide and empowering girls and young women in the tech sector. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is leading the way with initiatives focused on improving access, promoting career opportunities, developing digital skills, and recognising achievements.

By working in collaboration and sharing knowledge, we can drive sustainable change and create a more inclusive and equal tech industry for all.