UNCTAD annual report sheds light on development and digital economy

The UNCTAD Annual Report 2019 entitled ‘Beyond Uncertainty’ sheds light on the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation for development. The report highlights that digitalisation has the power to transform the global economy, but that developing and emerging countries still struggle to enact policies that will enable them to reap the benefits of digital transformation and as such require assistance from the international community. The document also underscores the opportunities that digital technologies offer to women, in particular, in the developing world in terms of entrepreneurship. That said, the report also draws attention to the digital gender gap that stems from obstacles such as cultural gender biases, lack of representation, and unequal access to funding.