International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to reflect on the journey towards a more equitable world for women. It is a day to recognize the progress that has been made in the direction and commit to stand in the way.
Today, we recognize the role information and communication Technology (ICT) has played in helping women to navigate some of the challenges they face day to day and the potential of ICTs to empower women to enjoy the full benefits of digital economy.
In recent years ICT have played a crucial role in enhancing women’s lives in various aspects of life, including agriculture safe motherhood small and medium enterprises rural livelihoods, the informal sector, and social economic participation.
Women in Agriculture
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), out of the 72 % off the population employed in Uganda’s agriculture sector, 77% are women. These under-lines the importance of women in agricultural value chain, especially subsistence food production.
ICTs have helped to address some of the challenges that women face in this sector including limited access to information, financial services and markets. Today mobile phones and internet service have enabled women farmers to access information on weather patterns, market prices, and improved agricultural practices leading to between yields and higher incomes.
Additionally, ICT have facilitated mobile banking service that enable women farmers to access financial services, which they can leverage to boost their farming ventures.
To enhance the adoption of ICTs, improve the content and digital skills of small holder farmers, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has partnered with Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) and developed the ICT4 Farmers App, the Farmers Extension Services Call Centre, the Agricultural e-Academy and digital skilling for farmers.
All this is geared towards improving agricultural productivity.
Safe Motherhood
Women face significant challenges regarding maternal health, especially in developing countries. How ever ICTs have provided new opportunities to address these challenges and improve on the quality of health care. Thanks to mobile phone and telemedicine services, women can now receive antenatal care, postnatal care, and family planning service through mobile phones have facilitate the collection of health data.
This has enabled health authorities to monitor maternal health and make informed decision. Consequently, the maternal mortality rate has dropped significantly over the last couple of years, according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
Small and Medium Enterprises
Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) account for more than 90% of the private sector and more than 70% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). How ever, women – owned SMEs often face significant challenges including limited access to markets and finance.
However, ICTs have enables women entrepreneurs to access new markets and business networks through e-commerce and other online business opportunities. Additionally, digital financial service has made it easier for women entrepreneurs to access finance which they can use to grow their business.
To enhance ICT adoption by MSMEs UCC has partnered with the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (FSMEs) to train more than 3,000 women in the informal sector to boost productivity and expand business opportunities.
Rural Women
Rural women face unique challenges including limited access to basic services, such as healthcare education, and clean water, ICTs have helped to improve the lives rural women through tools such as the mobile phone, which enable them to access information on healthcare services including antenatal care family planning and HIV/ AIDS prevention.
ICTs also support the delivery of education service in rural areas enabling girls to gain knowledge and skills.
To further stimulate ICT access and usage among rural communities including women, UCC has distributed 6,000 low -cost interest enable devices to poor households in selected villages across the country as part of proof of content projects on the necessity and role of access and usage of ICTs in eradicating household poverty.
Women in the informal Sector
Women in the informal Sector often work in low paying jobs and face significant challenges, including limited access to financial services and social protection. ICTs have enabled women in the informal sector to access financial services, including mobile banking and microfinance.
Additionally, digital platforms have enabled women to find new work opportunities such as online freelance and e-commerce
To empower women to take advantage of such opportunities, UCC has partnered with Women in Technology (WITU) through a digital literacy programme that targets 3000 women across 15 districts. Through digital skilling, women are empowered to not only use ICTs but use them safety, hence being in position to harness their full potential.
social Economic Participation
Women’s social economic participation is essential for economic growth and development. However, women often face significant challenge s when it comes to participating in economic activities. ICTs have provided new opportunities for women including in the economy through digital platforms such as ride sharing and home -sharing for many young mothers, career women and women in the formal sector.
ICT as basic as a mobile phone provide the much- needed support that helps them balance domestic economic and work demands.
Skills and Safety
However, to fully participate in the digital economy and to realize their full potential through ICTs women require adequate digital skills by boosting women’s digital skills we can create a more inclusive and equitable digital economy.
It is also worth remembering that women face a range of online safety challenge that can compromise their privacy, security and wellbeing. A safer and more inclusive online environment is critical for women to participate fully in digital economy and reap the benefits to the fullest.
Conclusion
As we commemorate International Women’s Day let’s remember that access to safe affordable ICTs can empower women in a variety of ways from boosting agricultural productivity in the informal sector to providing access to new opportunities, However, more work remains to be done to ensure that bottle necks such as access, safety and skills that stand in the way of women fully benefiting from ICTs are overcome.
As the regulator of the communications sector on a mission to leave no one behind, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) renews its commitment to empowering women through access to safe and affordable ICTs.
Advocating for policies and programmes that promote digital inclusion and equal opportunities through the ICT sector and working towards creating a world where all women have access to the tools and resources that they need to achieve their full potential
Together, we can close the digital divide and build a brighter future for women in digital age.
