1. GENDER STATISTICS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER EQUALITY
Dorothy Okello,
Annual Gender Statistics Forum
Tuesday, 14th November 2017,
Hotel Africana, Kampala
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

2. High level National Data Forum
Outline
Global commitments to Gender & ICT
Addressing Gender & ICT Barriers
Recommended action areas to reduce gender digital gap
Digital Gender Gap Audit
What we are collecting? (The story for Uganda)
Gender Statistics: What next?
Concluding Remarks
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

3. High level National Data Forum
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s estimates
Growth in Global Internet User Gender Gap
11% in % in 2016
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

4. Global commitments to Gender & ICT
Three areas among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address the gender digital divide
SDG 5b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology (ICT), to promote the empowerment of women
SDG 9c: Achieve universal, affordable Internet access in least developed countries by 2020
SDG 1.4: Ensure equal access to basic services [and] appropriate new technology for all women and men by 2030
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

5. Addressing Gender & ICT Barriers
Affordable Access
Improved understanding of affordability issues; innovating to reduce the cost of devices and services; improving network coverage, capacity and quality; and providing public access facilities.
Addressing threats that prevent access and use
Researching and understanding threats; increasing awareness of threats and how they can be addressed or reduced; developing safety applications and services; and strengthening protection measures and reporting procedures.
Improving digital literacy and confidence
Understanding women’s needs; investing in education and capacity-building initiatives; developing skills and confidence; supporting educators; and supporting and promoting female role models
Relevant content, apps and services
Building awareness; developing relevant content and services; and consulting and engaging women
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

6. Recommended Action Areas
DATA
Need to collect, analyse, and track gender-disaggregated data
Need for greater research into women’s access to and use of the Internet
Priority for publishing and sharing data & research
Source: Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. Working Group on the Digital Gender Divide
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

7. Recommended Action Areas TO Reduce gender digital gap../2
Strategies, policies, plans and budgets
Establishing gender equality targets for Internet and broadband access and use; assessing strategies, policies, plans and budgets for gender equality considerations; and consulting and involving women as well as relevant local communities and experts
Measures to address the barriers
faced by women
Implementing programs to address the barriers faced by women and girls in access and utilisation of ICTs
Promote women in the technology sector including into positions of decision-making
This includes addressing gender barriers to ICT education and training for women and girls as well as addressing women’s recruitment, retention and promotion to decision-making positions in the technology sector
Enhancing cooperation between
Stakeholders
Developing and sharing tools, guidelines and case studies to support national and international efforts to address the digital gender gap; and supporting and encouraging multi-stakeholder cooperation and sharing of expertise
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

8. Digital Gender Gap Audit High level National Data Forum
How do we know the Digital Gender Gap?
Example: Web Foundation Digital Gender Gap Audit Scorecard
Develop evidence and monitor country progress towards closing the digital gender gap
Support the development and implementation of policy measures to achieve SDGs on women and technology
The Scorecard supports a gender gap assessment of the digital divide
Internet access and Women’s Empowerment
Affordability
Digital Skills and Education
Relevant Content and Services for Women
Online Safety
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

9. What we are collecting? (The story for Uganda)
Key Sources:
Uganda Communications Commission
Includes information from ICT service providers and telecommunications operators
Uganda Bureau of Statistics
International Telecommunication Union
Web Foundation / Alliance for Affordability Internet (A4AI)
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

10. Internet Access and Women Empowerment
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

11. High level National Data Forum
We can also get supporting evidence from usage by location – given that the majority of women are based in rural areas
What is the status of women’s empowerment as a result of ICTs?
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

12. High level National Data Forum
Affordability
Sustainable Development Goal 9c commits governments to have universal and affordable access to ICTs by 2020
Access to energy a key issue too
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

13. High level National Data Forum
There is a direct relationship between price and level of access among women!
Price not the only factor as evidenced by case of Kenya
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

14. Digital Skills and Education High level National Data Forum
Even for those who could afford, skills and access remain key barriers
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

15. High level National Data Forum
Relevant Content
While not segregated by sex – content both in terms of material and language are issues to be addressed
Even from 3 years ago, there are already concerns about surveillance and privacy invasion
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

16. High level National Data Forum
Online Content
Concerns about safety and harassment online have been shown to be key factors influencing some women’s decision to “keep away” from ICT
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

17. High level National Data Forum
Gender Statistics: What next Need for Quantitative and Qualitative Gender and ICT Statistics
Good Example: World Bank Indicators for Monitoring Gender and ICT
Internet access and usage
Content
Employment
Education
ICT Telecommunications Policy
Participation in telecommunication & ICT decision making
Differential impact of ICTs on men and women
Participation in ICT projects
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

18. High level National Data Forum
Gender Statistics: What next? …/2 Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development – ICT Indicators
Adapt to collect sex-disaggregated ICT statistics
e.g. at household or individual or enterprise levels
Adapt to understand gendered usage:
Proportion of individuals using a mobile phone, by type of activity
Proportion of individuals not using the Internet, by type of barrier
ICT infrastructure and access (10 indicators)
Basis for UCC access and usage survey
ICT access and use by households and individuals (19 indicators)
ICT access and use by enterprises (12 indicators)
ICT sector and trade in ICT goods (4 indicators)
ICT in education (9 indicators)
ICT in government (7 indicators) 
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

19. High level National Data Forum
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Issues and barriers faced by women and girls in benefiting from potential of ICTs well known
Measurement essential to guide policies and programs to close the gender gap
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017

20. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION High level National Data Forum
8/28/2018
High level National Data Forum
14th -17th November 2017