Rwanda: Digital Inclusion Future - GSMA's Claire Sibthorpe Analyses Gender Gap Progress

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The mobile gender gap is narrowing for the first time in five years, as reported by GSMA, a global non-profit representing mobile network operators. Their 'Mobile Gender Gap Report 2024' reveals a significant increase in women using mobile internet compared to previous years.

The mobile gender gap is narrowing for the first time in five years, as reported by GSMA, a global non-profit representing mobile network operators. Their"Mobile Gender Gap Report 2024" reveals a significant increase in women using mobile internet compared to previous years.

Falling prices and the post-pandemic economic recovery have been likely factors for helping to narrow the gender gap but there are still many barriers preventing men and women from adopting mobile internet. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the top barrier to mobile internet adoption is handset affordability.

Could you elaborate on the relevance of women having equal access to mobile devices and the internet as men for those who might not get it? From our research, we see that once women start using mobile phones and mobile internet, they unlock benefits that improve their lives. In 2022, we found that across all 12 surveyed countries, the majority of women who use mobile internet believed it had a positive impact on their lives and reported this to a similar extent as men.

To this end, there is a need to ensure a focus on gender equality and digital inclusion for women. Policymakers and others need to prioritise gender equality in digital inclusion strategies. This includes setting specific gender equity targets. Improve the quality and availability of gender-disaggregated data to understand the mobile gender gap and to support tailored interventions.

Does the GSMA foresee a future where the gender gap in mobile access is completely closed? If so, what benefits would this bring to society as a whole?

 

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