The Sunday Mail
Tsitsi Mariwo- Mbanje
ON March 8, 2021, Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Women’s Day, celebrating the achievements of women in the different spheres of life and taking note of the challenges that still persist in achieving gender equality.
During this women’s month, it is imperative for stakeholders in the information communication technology (ICT) sector in Zimbabwe to reflect on gender equality in terms of access, ownership and use of digital technologies.
The immense potential of digital technologies in improving women and girls’ social and economic standing cannot be over-emphasised.
Women and girls’ equal and meaningful participation in the ICT ecosystem is integral to the realisation of not only a just and inclusive information society, but gender equality and women’s empowerment by 2030.
More recently, Covid-19 has demonstrated much more effectively the importance of ICTs to the young, the old, women and men in both urban and rural areas and in developing and developed nations.
It is acknowledged from the onset that nationally, there is dearth of information on the digital/ICT gender divide, mainly due to the absence of disaggregated data and increased awareness on the issue.
However, utilising the little information available, this initial conversation is meant to raise the issues and hopefully start more meaningful conversations on the current status of the digital gender divide in Zimbabwe to bolster the evidence base for meaningful future policy and private sector interventions to narrow the gap.
Gender equality is a right enshrined in several international conventions and protocols and the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe National Policy for Information Communication Technology (2016-2020) als recognises in paragraph 18.1a of the policy statement that, the Government will work towards ensuring that there is gender equality and equity in access to and use of ICTs.
As such, gender mainstreaming is identified as a strategy to ensure that concerns and experiences of both men and women are integrated into the design and implementation of ICT programmes so that all benefit equally.
In addition, within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals under Goal 5, the United Nations noted that sustainable development will not be achievable without the equal contribution of women and men towards the betterment of societies and economies through use of enabling tools offered by digital technologies.
ICT applications, services, and solutions can now offer opportunities for both women and men to generate additional income, increase employment opportunities, political participation and in turn lead to socio-economic empowerment.
Access to ICTs and affordability remains the major challenges for women in developing countries and this has created what is known as the “digital gender divide”, according to UN Women.
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), an industry organisation that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, estimates that closing the gender gap in mobile phone ownership could add an additional US$170 billion dollars to the mobile industry in the period from 2015-2020.
Therefore, creating a conducive environment for a more equitable ICT ecosystem is not only a human rights issue, but a business case issue for serious consideration by the ICT private sector players in Zimbabwe.
Some challenges have deterred women from fully exploiting the benefits of digital technologies and this has become a global concern (Equals 2018, OECD, 2018, GSMA, 2019).
These challenges include; affordability, accessibility, technological literacy and skills, safety and security, relevance of available content and social norms as well as lack of focus on women as demonstrated by limited gender disaggregated data nationally.
In spite of the challenges noted above and the fact that a lot more still needs to be done, as we start this conversation, it is important to acknowledge and flag some of the initiatives at national level aimed at narrowing the digital gender divide. These initiatives include:
Increasing network coverage
One significant barrier facing women and girls is the lack of connectivity due to lack of or poor network coverage.
Through the Universal Service Fund (USF), POTRAZ has embarked on several projects aimed at reaching the furthest communities and social groups, including women and girls. The authority has partnered with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in rolling out passive infrastructure in underserved areas as an incentive to increase network coverage.
Increasing access to ICT devices
According to POTRAZ , 2020, through the USF’s e-learning project it has increased access to ICT devices in schools.
Over 500 rural schools have been equipped with computers to facilitate learning. In addition, it has established Community Information Centres (CIC) in all the 10 provinces of the country with over 131 already equipped with State-of-the-art equipment meant to increase access to ICT devices. POTRAZ also established and equipped 21 Containerised Village Information Centres in the 8 rural provinces of the country.
Furthermore, the Connect a School, Connect a Community programme is another intervention that increased access to ICT devices and access to the internet by 60 rural primary and secondary schools that benefitted from the project. However, more needs to be done to deal with a multiplicity of challenges hampering girls’ access to ICTs, such as access to electricity, access to ICT gadgets and affordable broadband.
Supportive environment for innovation and content creation
The availability of relevant content is another barrier to women’s access and use of ICTs. To address this, according to POTRAZ, 2020, the Innovation Fund seeks to promote access to finances for technological innovation and content creation to drive social inclusion and economic participation of women. Both male and female students can apply for funding to develop bankable ICT and content projects.
So far, over 12 projects have been funded.
While this is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to create a supportive environment to encourage uptake of the fund by more women.
To be continued on www.thesundaymail.co.zw
Tsitsi Mariwo-Mbanje is a lawyer with 20 years’ experience, nine of which have a footprint in ICT policy and regulation. She writes in her own capacity and can be contacted on Mobile: 0774 107 004 or Email: [email protected]
