African and technology in Africa: What does it place for women?

ICTs have brought major revolutions in developing countries, particularly in Africa. We must therefore ask ourselves what benefits we derive in our societies undermined by the problems of social inclusion and exclusion are widespread. What uses do African women make of them?

 

Women and ICT use in Africa

In Africa, women use ICTs in several areas. They use it in facilitating their own empowerment. They also use it to offer mobile telephone services in underprivileged localities, with the support of the creation of several employment opportunities -thanks to universal access to the internet. In “Women’s Access to New Media” presented by Ms Gisèle  GUIGMA, a book based on the implications of an extensive research  project in which academics and activists studied the situation in their respective communities and countries through original field research, it emerged that:

ICTs have the potential to digitally link all women in the world into a network that opens infinite possibilities for information exchange. In addition, they use this channel:

– to network for political advocacy

– to network for trade

– use commercial applications almost as much as men

This forces the commercial sector to attract women from developing countries to global shopping centres.

 

Women innovating in ICT in Francophone Africa

Although women tend to adopt this new technology more slowly, they should remember that they use it for useful purposes. We can cite as evidence among others; EDITH BROU who is one of the best bloggers in Côte d’Ivoire who has a good number of followers. Another example is Evelyn Namara who founded Vouch Digital, a technology start-up using digital data and payments to transform cash access programs in Uganda and beyond.

 

Information and communication technologies are indispensable tools for gender equality in Africa because they create new jobs and opportunities, end isolation and allow women to have a broader vision of their part to learn in building different countries. From the different States of ease to the population access has its indispensable tools for development.