Benchmarking countries’ progress globally on closing the gender digital divide ( Women in Digital Transformation)

Arguments

Benchmarking countries’ progress in closing the gender digital divide is essential.

Supporting facts:

• Good foundations are necessary but not sufficient to overcome gender digital divide.

• The lack of adequate and accurate information about women and girls is profound.

• Cultural and social norms play a key role in overcoming the gender digital divide.

Topics: gender inequality, digital divide, benchmarking

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Inclusion of women in digital economy affects market growth.

Supporting facts:

• The digital economy is over 50% of the global GDP and continues to grow.

• Women continue to be underrepresented in CIS areas, key government positions, ICT sector.

Topics: Digital economy, Market growth, Gender inclusion

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Gender Digital Divide Index was launched by Women in Digital Transformation and DACA advisory to measure progress in closing gender digital divide.

Supporting facts:

• Currently, there is no comprehensive approach to globally measuring and tracking progress in closing gender digital divide.

• Business, government, and development organization leaders acknowledge gender equality’s importance.

Topics: Gender Digital Divide Index, Women in Digital Transformation, DACA advisory

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Importance of understanding the local barriers for women’s access to smartphones

Supporting facts:

• Observation that violence from the community can be a barrier

• Each community can have different dynamics affecting women’s access to technology

Topics: Women’s access to technology, Cultural barriers

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Kate Gromova showed interest in local issues blocking women’s engagement in e-commerce

Supporting facts:

• Kate Gromova asked about barriers that stop women from engaging in e-commerce and how the data collected can help private sector and businesses

Topics: Women in Business, E-commerce

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Continued support and mentoring essential for women using digital skills

Supporting facts:

• The women need support after training for better adoption and usage of digital skills.

• Support is costly but seems essential to maintain progress.

Topics: Digital Skills, Mentoring, Training

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Kate supports the donors funding for data capacity building projects

Supporting facts:

• New initiave called Women in the Digital Economy Fund is started by USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

• This initiative is aiming to expand collection and responsible use of gender disaggregated data

Topics: Donor Funding, Digital Economy Fund, Gender-Segregated Data

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Underutilization of readily available data sets in development projects

Supporting facts:

• Discussion about the use of satellite data for developing initiatives

• Examples of data usage by small businesses in the States

Topics: Data Utilization, Development Projects, Publicly Available Data

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Report

During the discussion, the speakers explored various aspects of the gender digital divide and its implications in different areas, such as the digital economy, access to technology, and digital skills. One key point that was highlighted was the need to benchmark countries’ progress in closing the gender digital divide.

This would provide a means of measuring and tracking the improvements made globally. It was argued that good foundations are necessary, but not sufficient, to overcome the gender digital divide. The speakers also emphasized the lack of adequate and accurate information about women and girls, which has profound implications for addressing the gender digital divide.

Cultural and social norms were identified as playing a crucial role in overcoming this divide. The importance of understanding local barriers for women’s access to smartphones was also stressed, with the recognition that these barriers can come not only from the family but also from the wider community.

In the context of the digital economy, it was noted that it constitutes over 50% of the global GDP and continues to grow. However, women continue to be underrepresented in critical areas such as CIS (Computer and Information Sciences) positions, key government positions, and the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector.

Therefore, it was argued that the inclusion of women in the digital economy is crucial for market growth. Another significant point raised was the lack of a comprehensive approach to globally measuring and tracking progress in closing the gender digital divide.

In response to this, the Gender Digital Divide Index was launched by Women in Digital Transformation and DACA advisory. This index aims to provide a measure of progress in closing the gender digital divide and has received support from business, government, and development organization leaders who acknowledge the importance of gender equality.

The conversation also touched upon the barriers women face in engaging in e-commerce. Specific local issues that prevent women from participating in e-commerce were discussed, and the potential for collecting data to help the private sector and businesses address these issues was highlighted.

Regarding digital skills, it was recognized that training alone is not sufficient. Continued support and mentoring are essential for women to adopt and effectively utilize digital skills. There was a consensus among the speakers that ongoing support is valuable in digital training, and mentoring could be a potential strategy moving forward.

The speakers also addressed the issue of data capacity building projects and stressed the importance of donor funding to support these initiatives. One new initiative highlighted was the Women in the Digital Economy Fund, which was started by USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

This initiative aims to expand the collection and responsible use of gender disaggregated data. Additionally, there was a discussion about the need for a single repository where all gender-segregated data, initiatives, and activities can be accessed. Having such a repository was seen as beneficial for boosting other activities and initiatives, as well as for understanding the nuances and trends in the digital gender gap.

Finally, the importance of balancing the collection of local data with identifying global trends in the digital space was emphasized. It was acknowledged that the digital space changes rapidly, and tracking global trends is crucial. However, local data is also necessary to address specific issues effectively.

In conclusion, the speakers highlighted the need for ongoing efforts to bridge the gender digital divide. They called for benchmarking countries’ progress, comprehensive measurement of the divide, inclusion of women in the digital economy, understanding local barriers, continued support and mentoring, funding for data capacity building projects, a single repository for gender-segregated data, and the utilization of both local and global data to address the digital gender gap.

Arguments

Providing smartphones and training in regions with gender digital divide such as Tanzania and Malawi is effective in increasing usage and take up of using mobile money, transforming women’s financial inclusion

Supporting facts:

• Less than 30% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to a phone.

• Smartphones lead to greater gains in consumption and household well-being compared to basic phones.

Topics: Smartphones, Digital Divide, Gender Gap, Financial Inclusion

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Women with smartphones save more money in mobile money accounts but do not use it for economic transactions

Supporting facts:

• Women in the Malawi smartphone study tend to save the money rather than investing in entrepreneurial activities.

Topics: Smartphones, Mobile Money Accounts, Women’s Economic Independence

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Women’s economic empowerment through digital transformation requires societal change along with norm change within the household

Supporting facts:

• Women in Tanzania face social resistance from outsiders and external violence when they gain access to smartphones.

• There is a significant resistance towards women’s property rights in these societies.

Topics: Women’s Economic Empowerment, Digital Transformation, Societal Change, Norm Change

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People who didn’t initially receive a smartphone often ended up buying one after seeing its value through their peers.

Supporting facts:

• Some of the women who didn’t receive smartphones as part of the experiment bought smartphones having observed their peers who have benefited from it.

• Some women started with a basic phone then saved up to buy a smartphone recognizing the broader options it provides, like business opportunities through WhatsApp.

Topics: Smartphone usage, Peer influence, Technology adoption

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Academia can contribute by linking administrative and secondary data to primary data collected on the field

Supporting facts:

• There are newer secondary data sets that are coming up on mobile connectivity

• There are opportunities to link this with survey outcomes collected on the field

Topics: Academia, Data Linkage, Data Collection

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Mobile Network Operators (MNO) partnerships are critical for understanding the state of mobile connectivity

Supporting facts:

• There’s a lot of data being collected at the MNO level

• These partnerships are important for growth, piloting, testing, and scaling

Topics: Mobile Network Operators, Partnerships, Mobile Connectivity

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The advent of AI brings the need for its democratization and availability in emerging economies

Supporting facts:

• AI democratization is especially important when it comes to addressing biases of AI

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Democratization of AI, Emerging Economies

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Report

This comprehensive summary explores the impact of providing smartphones and training in regions with a gender digital divide, such as Tanzania and Malawi. It underscores the positive effects of this intervention on increasing the usage and uptake of mobile money, thus improving women’s financial inclusion.

The evidence presented reveals that less than 30% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to a phone, highlighting the urgent need for initiatives that bridge this gap. One of the arguments put forward is that smartphones yield greater gains in consumption and household well-being compared to basic phones.

This is supported by evidence showing that women with smartphones tend to save more money in their mobile money accounts, demonstrating positive financial behavior. However, it is also noted that these savings are often not used for economic transactions or entrepreneurial activities.

Another important point raised is the resistance faced by women when they gain access to smartphones in societies such as Tanzania and Malawi. Social resistance from external sources, as well as instances of violence, are reported as obstacles to women’s economic empowerment through digital transformation.

Additionally, there is significant resistance towards women’s property rights in these societies, further hindering their financial independence. Interestingly, the analysis suggests that peer influence plays a crucial role in smartphone adoption. Women who did not initially receive smartphones as part of an experiment were observed to purchase them after witnessing the benefits experienced by their peers.

This observation underscores the value and desirability of smartphones as transformative tools. The advantages of smartphones over basic phones are emphasized, highlighting their ability to unlock opportunities and provide greater long-term benefits. Women who transitioned from basic phones to smartphones experienced added advantages, such as starting businesses on platforms like WhatsApp, leading to economic growth.

Besides the impact on women’s financial inclusion, the summary briefly touches upon the role of academia in contributing to the field. It suggests that academia can bridge administrative and secondary data with primary data collected in the field. This approach offers opportunities for comprehensive analysis and a better understanding of the impact of mobile connectivity.

Furthermore, partnerships with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are described as critical for understanding the state of mobile connectivity. These collaborations are seen as important for growth, piloting, testing, and scaling advancements in mobile technology. The emerging importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its democratization in addressing biases are also highlighted.

It is argued that the availability of AI in emerging economies is crucial for ensuring fairness and accessibility in its application. In conclusion, providing smartphones and training in regions with a gender digital divide effectively increases the usage and uptake of mobile money, positively impacting women’s financial inclusion.

Despite social resistance and violence faced by women when accessing smartphones, peer influence and the recognition of smartphones’ value drive their adoption. Smartphones offer various advantages over basic phones, unlocking opportunities for economic growth. Additionally, academia and partnerships with MNOs play significant roles in advancing mobile connectivity and addressing societal challenges.

The democratization of AI is critical for promoting fairness and accessibility in emerging economies.

Arguments

There is significant improvement in ICT and e-banking, with more women in Cambodia using online payment methods for buying products online and more women studying ICT

Supporting facts:

• More women and girls in Cambodia are studying ICT and getting into ICT-related jobs

• Women are enjoying making payments through online mobile banking for online and offline purchases

Topics: e-commerce, ICT, e-banking, digital innovation

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Women in remote areas face challenges with internet connectivity and digital skills for e-commerce

Supporting facts:

• There are challenges to onboard women from remote areas due to poor internet connectivity

• Women in remote areas have difficulties putting information about their products on online platforms, indicating an issue with digital skills

Topics: e-commerce, digital skills, internet connectivity, rural women

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Women in e-commerce face challenges due to male dominance in business negotiations and discussions

Supporting facts:

• Faced challenges when having dialogues with different stakeholders which is a male-dominated area

• More men have power control in business negotiations and policy discussions

Topics: e-commerce, gender inequality, business negotiations

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Positive outlook for promotion of e-commerce in Cambodia with government initiatives

Supporting facts:

• The new prime minister introduced policies related to digital innovation and promotion of the digital economy

• Law and regulations have been set up to promote digital innovation

• Ministry of Commerce has a project on e-commerce and cross-border trade

Topics: e-commerce, government initiatives, digital economy

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In addition to training, women need continuous support and mentoring to fully utilize digital skills in the e-commerce platform

Supporting facts:

• They are working with development partner GIZ to conduct online training where women vendors can learn from mentors in China and Germany

• Successfully organized international exposure programs where women entrepreneurs were taken to Vietnam to learn from Vietnamese women businesses

Topics: Digital Skills, Mentoring, Women Empowerment, E-commerce

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The issue is still around data collection

Supporting facts:

• Worked with 10 Asian countries on a project funded by the Korean government.

• The line ministries don’t really have a central hub for accessing data.

• The issue of finding reliable data about women-managed businesses is not unique to Cambodia, but is present in many ASEAN countries.

Topics: Data collection, Market analysis, E-commerce

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Speed up the digital literacy program

Supporting facts:

• Digital literacy is needed for young people who are a part of the workforce.

• Giving digital training to women implies giving digital literacy to young people or children.

Topics: Digital Literacy, Youth Employment, Education

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Report

The analysis of the e-commerce landscape for women in Cambodia reveals both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side, there has been significant improvement in the field of ICT and e-banking, with more women in Cambodia embracing online payment methods and studying ICT.

This indicates a shift towards more digital and innovative practices. Furthermore, government initiatives have been introduced to promote e-commerce, with the new prime minister implementing policies related to digital innovation and the digital economy. The Ministry of Commerce has also initiated a project on e-commerce and cross-border trade, indicating a positive outlook for the future of e-commerce in Cambodia.

However, there are several challenges that women face in this digital landscape. One major obstacle is poor internet connectivity in remote areas, which hinders the ability of women from these regions to fully participate in e-commerce. Additionally, many women in remote areas lack digital skills, which makes it difficult for them to put information about their products on online platforms.

This clearly indicates a need for targeted digital skills training to bridge this gap. Another barrier faced by women in e-commerce is the male dominance in business negotiations and discussions. Women face challenges when engaging with different stakeholders in this male-dominated area, and men hold more control and power in these interactions.

This highlights the need for greater gender equality and inclusion in the e-commerce sector. To fully harness the potential of digital skills in the e-commerce platform, women require continuous support and mentoring. Initiatives such as online training programs offered in collaboration with development partner GIZ have proved successful in providing women vendors with mentorship opportunities, where they can learn from mentors in China and Germany.

Additionally, international exposure programs have been organized, taking women entrepreneurs to Vietnam to learn from Vietnamese women-owned businesses. This exposure to businesses outside of Cambodia can give women vendors new techniques and ideas to apply in their own respective businesses.

Data collection remains a challenge in the e-commerce sector, not only in Cambodia but also in many ASEAN countries. Finding reliable data about women-managed businesses is difficult, as line ministries often lack a central hub for accessing data. This indicates the need for improved data collection processes and platforms to gather accurate and comprehensive information.

Furthermore, policymakers should have access to gender-based data, as it can be instrumental in designing and implementing policies that promote gender equality and reduce inequalities. Access to information and data is essential for making informed decisions and shaping effective policies.

In terms of digital literacy, it is crucial to speed up the digital literacy programs in the country. Digital literacy is not only important for women’s empowerment but also for young people who are part of the workforce. Providing digital training to women implies giving digital literacy to young people or children, which can contribute to overall economic growth and development.

Finally, development partners should consider investing in data setup to provide a strong evidence base for policymakers and business owners. Investing in data setup is essential for women entrepreneurs in their decision-making processes and can help drive the growth of the e-commerce sector.

In conclusion, while there are positive developments in the e-commerce landscape for women in Cambodia, there are still significant challenges that need to be addressed. These include improving internet connectivity, enhancing digital skills training, promoting gender equality in business negotiations, and addressing data collection issues.

By focusing on these areas and providing continuous support, mentoring, and investment, Cambodia can create a more inclusive and thriving e-commerce ecosystem for women, contributing to overall economic growth and promoting gender equality.

Arguments

Donors like USAID are interested in any data generated by their funded projects and they appoint data stewards to manage data collection effectively

Supporting facts:

• Data stewards identify and capture relevant project data

• They ensure the data is collected properly and that privacy concerns are dealt with

Topics: USAID, Data Management, Donor-funded projects

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Open data is increasingly valued in donor-funded projects, and donors are working to make data from their projects publicly available.

Supporting facts:

• USAID has an open data repository where data from funded projects is shared

• The Digital Impact Alliance is a donor-coordinated alliance focusing on open data

Topics: Open data, Donor-funded projects

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Donors are beginning to focus on funding not just interventions, but actual data capacity-building projects.

Supporting facts:

• USAID’s Women in the Digital Economy Fund is an example of a fund dedicated to data production and insights

• This shift towards funding data initiatives is also present in the environmental sector

Topics: Data capacity-building, Donor funding

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Supporting data generation within countries

Supporting facts:

• Donors usually are interested in ensuring that national statistical offices are providing information and data or have the capacity to provide the data

• Data generation is essential to be able to address these gaps, especially gender gaps

Topics: Data sovereignty, National Statistical Offices, ICT Adoption, Data transparency, Cross-border data sharing

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Report

Data stewardship is increasingly important in donor-funded projects, with donors such as USAID recognizing the value of project data. They appoint data stewards to manage data collection effectively, ensuring proper collection and addressing privacy concerns. This positive sentiment towards data stewardship reflects the recognition of its importance in project data management.

Open data is also gaining traction in donor-funded projects, with donors establishing repositories to share data from funded projects. This reflects a positive shift towards transparency and accessibility of project data. The Digital Impact Alliance, focused on open data, further emphasizes this positive sentiment.

Donors are not only valuing project data but also prioritizing funding for data capacity-building projects. USAID’s Women in the Digital Economy Fund exemplifies this, and the positive sentiment extends beyond a specific sector. This shift reflects a recognition of the importance of strong data capabilities.

Sophia Anong advocates for data capacity development, highlighting the significance of project data for training purposes. Initiatives like the Women Connect Challenge and the Women in the Digital Economy Fund further support this positive sentiment towards data capacity-building. Supporting data generation within countries is seen as essential, particularly in addressing gender and other data gaps.

Donors express interest in empowering national statistical offices to provide data and information. This positive sentiment supports efforts to fill data gaps. Data is increasingly recognized as an asset by academics, the private sector, and policymakers. They utilize data for various purposes, reflecting the positive sentiment towards harnessing its value.

Policy frameworks, however, struggle to keep up with advancements in technology, highlighting the need for more adaptable and effective governance. In conclusion, the analysis of donor-funded projects highlights the importance of data stewardship, open data, and funding data capacity-building projects.

It emphasizes the significance of project data for training purposes, supporting data generation within countries, and recognizing data as an asset. These trends reflect a positive sentiment towards effective data management and utilization in addressing societal challenges.