THE AWORC RESEARCH WOMEN’S USE OF ICT

Objectives n To provide a context of women’s electronic networking in Asia-Pacific n To share the major findings of the AWORC research

Context n world conference on women was major impetus for women's advances in the use of ICTs n expansion of more women & women's networks using the Internet in their work. n study how this trend was developing in the national level

Study the: n level of ICT use n how ICT is used in their work n what their training and networking needs are n how to advance women's empowerment through the use of ICT

The Research Methodology n rationale and design of the research was developed collaboratively n a single survey questionnaire was used n common report format was developed for each report n three separate reports have also been written

Content n Countries Surveyed n Profile of women’s organisations surveyed n Overview of the information and communication sector n Summary of findings n Summary of Recommendations

Countries Surveyed 23 countries n Asia: India, Nepal, Indonesia, Philippines, Mongolia, Japan, Korea n The Caucuses and the Central Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan n Pacific: Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tonga, New Caledonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands.

Profiles of Organizations

Overview of the information and communication sector

Asia n uneven development of the telecommunications sector is seen in all the countries except Japan and ROK. n extremes of terrain and geographical features have impacted on the acquisition of telecommunications technology and its diffusion

n covers all the major cities but the infrastructure in the provinces and islands is poor n level of economic development is also a factor that has constrained the development of telecommunications infrastructure

Caucuses and Central Asia n the new republics still lag behind the more developed industrial countries with respect to nearly all areas of ICT development n national agencies responsible for the regulation of the telecommunications sector have been established

n most of the new republics’ telecommunication sectors are outdated and of poor quality, especially in regions outside of national capitals and major urban areas n a slight increase in the number of women IT students and professionals, gender disparities remain extremely high

n technical services and support is slow and expensive. n only a minority of the population is proficient in English, the dominant language of the Web n the number of organizations and individuals regularly using the Internet is still extremely small with respect to overall populations.

Pacific n communications structures of Pacific Island countries and territories are largely colonial legacies n the Pacific’s geographical diversity/vastness is a challenge in connectivity n the Pacific Islands have been slower than other world regions in terms of access to and utilisation of the internet

Summary of findings

Asia n Use of ICTs in Women’s organisations –ICTs not being used optimally –ratio of computers to full time staff was approximately 1:1. –most use: administrative, , accounting –less use: participation in mailing lists and on-line discussions, accessing information from the net, advocacy on the net

n Information and Visibility –by gaining more visibility through web sites, having access to donor assistance, and information about international and regional activities relating to the women’s movement n Financial Constraints –women’s organisations had little or no financial resources for ICT

n Gaps in Technical Capacity and Training –net-literacy and inadequate skills –women’s organisations did not provide IT training to their staff routinely –women’s organisations also lacked information on Internet resources, advocacy and lobbying skills, and skills on combining conventional methods of information dissemination and access with the Internet.

The Caucasus and Central Asia region n Useful ICT tools: –Telephone – –Facsimile –Postal mail n Recipient of the information: –Other NGOs –donors and other int’l organizations –mass media,national governments, libraries/resource centers, individuals

n ICT as a Tool for Empowerment –conduct research and gain access to news, information –improve organizational and personal knowledge, skills –monitor and participate in global women’s initiatives –disseminate information and publicize materials

–lobby development causes at local and regional levels –exchange information and experience coordinate activities both in-country and abroad –contribute to civil society and local communities –identify new contacts and development partners –apply for donor funding and other forms of technical support.

n Barriers to ICT Use n lack of sufficient technical skills n lack of necessary equipment, hardware and soft- ware n lack of financial independence and sustainability n Secondary factors –limited awareness and understanding of the opportunities made available by ICT –limited knowledge of English –limited number of other on-line local NGOs with whom to network –lack of comprehension to use ICT for development

Pacific n Usefulness of ICT –Organizations continue to use more traditional mediums of communication such as faxes, telephones and snail mail in combination with –Very few Pacific women’s organisations utilise the web as a networking facility

Most common use –Communication and networking with members, partners, networks, international women’s organisations and funders –Advocacy, lobbying, publicising the organisation –Research and Information on international news/events –least useful for information on national events and job postings. –Improved organizational output/productivity /Saves time and money

n Skills and Training –few women's groups who have Internet access are computer literate but are not formally trained in the usage of the web and its tools n Awareness & Understanding of the Benefits of ICT –lack the skills and financial resources needed to effectively access and utilise the medium

n Combining ICT with Popular Forms of Communication –radio is still the most popular form of communication in the Islands due to its affordability and accessibility factors and its provision of vernacular services

n Connectivity & Access Costs –95 percent of respondents highlighted the cost factor as a barrier to access and effective utilisation of ICT –Women’s organisations are not getting online due to: limited funds high access costs due to Internet Service Provider (ISP) monopolies, a lack of reliable connections, and limitations with facilities in the Islands also fuel the situation. audiences are often without access which means that the Internet is not always an efficient means of communication.

Summary of recommendations n Greater Access to ICT decision making n Greater access for the unconnected n More educational and training opportunities for women n Training women trainers n Training and capacity-building in basic computer skills and literacy;

Summary of recommendations n Awareness raising about ICT n Mobilization of more resources for ICT and development for women n ICT should be expanded for participatory forms of collaboration, decision-making, and educational and publicity campaigns.

Summary of recommendations n More in-depth follow-up studies should be conducted at the country level n enhance ICT accessibility through convergence of technologies such as radio and the Internet

Communication Key to Advocacy Effective use of communication is a key tool for advocacy. Sound knowledge and understanding of how communication works, including ways to efficiently access and utilise the many tools within, is necessary for social and economic development.

Access to information technology is a rights issue. Women must ensure that they are given the opportunity to become more computer literate, to utilise the Internet and its many tools for more efficient networking, information sharing and capacity building.

ICT development should be relevant to the region n An effective communications system is one which works for the majority of a people. n ICT development must adopt and effectively to address the cultural, vernacular and geographical needs of the region

n The multiplicity of languages and cultures must also be accounted for to overcome gender, economic, digital divides, recognising that language, cultural and generational divides exist in every society