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ICT and Gender: Directions and Policy

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Women make up to 70 % of World's poor ... See Swasti Mitter, Asian Women in the Digital Economy; see also, digitaldividedata.org ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: ICT and Gender: Directions and Policy


1
  • ICT and Gender Directions and Policy
  • Forum on ICTs and Gender
  • Kuala Lumpur, 20th August, 2003

By Isa Seow UNDP-APDIP
2
ICT Access Challenges/Problems in Asia Pacific
  • High costs for connectivity
  • ICT infrastructure not adequate, especially in
    rural areas
  • Low levels of literacy an underlying issue
  • Less transparent policy and regulatory
    environment for market access, competition, other
    areas
  • Developing country governments have to prioritize
    between water, sanitation, electricity, etc
    very basic needs (huge issues)
  • Local language fonts and relevant content not
    available
  • Social issue? families think men should be
    educated, be in technical studies stream and
    breadwinner, not women

3
Why is the Gender Issue Important?
  • Women make up to 70 of Worlds poor
  • UN Declaration of Human Rights makes reference to
    equal status of Women
  • Limited Role of Women affect lives of others
    family, children, etc
  • Womens economic and social status are important
    e.g. cases of sex selective abortions
  • Its a social issue, and difficult to
    address/resolve
  • The problem falls into UNDP work programmes

4
  • ICT PERCENTAGE WOMEN USERS
  • Latin America 38
  • Europe 36
  • Asia 22
  • - In the three regions, Asia has the least
    number of Women ICT Users. (Source Nancy and
    Taggart) Harvard/Radcliffe

5
Directions for the Future
6
How Can ICT Help?
  • Recognise inherent link between ICT and
    Empowerment of WomenICT for sustainable
    livelihood and job opportunities
  • GoalsTo Ensure equitable access in ICT
    SectorTo Ensure ICTs contribute further to
    positive change in Gender relations.

7
ICTs Empower All
  • - As an economic/business tool to gain
    independence (improves productivity) - As a
    medium for education - Allows networking of
    women / groups - Source of content about
    reproductive health, disease, needs of children,
    child mortality, etc - Increased bargaining
    power in family and society - A two-way process,
    governments gain important knowledge about
    womens well being statistics, etc

8
New Work Opportunities in Digital Economy
  • ICT is a medium for economic opportunities
    and independence. - E-commerce,- Teleworking,
    - Call Centers, Data Conversion- Medical
    Transcription. - Content Development Deposition
    summary. Insurance claims processing.
    Geographical information systems. Web design, the
    list goes on See Swasti Mitter, Asian Women in
    the Digital Economy see also, digitaldividedata.o
    rg

9
A Proposed Approach 3 Pronged
StrategyLiteracy, Content and Empowerment
(Policy)
  • APDIPs in-house research - recommendation
    was to address specific ICT and Gender problems,
    not general digital divide issues thus1.
    Literacy Basic skills such as reading, writing
    etc important. Present literacy rates- Women make
    64 of global illiterate. Also, encourage women
    to move into technical fields. 2. Content
    (specific content such as reproductive health,
    child-care, financial resources, teleworking
    information, womens groups, role models, etc)
    Also support font work.

10
  • 3. Empowerment Continue to support women leaders
    to make high level recommendations (and policy).
    To latch on and provide support, directions, etc.
    Work with women leaders, women ICT specialists,
    to find medium- longer term solutions also
    provide jobs/employment.

11
  • At its most foundational levela practical
    approachTo include a Gender analysis, or
    perspective wherever possible, from proposals to
    projects, policy formulation, initiatives,
    awareness programs, etc. Ask how does it
    reflects on gender in most or all circumstances.

12
The Policy Approach
  • - To consider engendered policy approach.
    For example, focus on gender-specific telephone
    penetration statistics instead of geographical-
    Recognise the need for more women representation
    at policy-formulation levels- Support education
    and training of women at planning/policy stages

13
Engendered Policy Approach
14
  • Examples of Gender ICT Projects in Asia-Pacific

15
(No Transcript)
16
Organisation
Activities
17
Activities
Organisation
18
  • APDIP Activities
  • ICTs and MDGs, in-house research and thinking,
    and,
  • e-Primer on Gender and Policy.
  • Under RD Grants, (1) IT mediated rural women
    education and dissemination of health information
    - A pilot, TamilNadu,
  • (2) Leveraging Information Communication
    Technologies (ICT) Through Weekly Market Centres
    for Tribal (Indigenous) Communities, Maharashtra,
    India

19
  • APDIPs MISSION
  • APDIP aims to promote the development and
    application of ICT for poverty alleviation and
    sustainable human development in Asia-Pacific
  • http//www.apdip.net

20
  • APDIPs CORE PROGRAMME AREAS
  • Policy Development and Dialogue
  • Raise awareness, promote regional and national
    ICT policy dialogue, and development of ICT
    strategies
  • Access
  • Various dimensions of Access e.g. policy,
    infrastructure, affordable technology, and
    gender/social issues bringing technology to the
    people goes beyond the provision of
    infrastructure and hardware
  • Content Development and Knowledge Management
  • Facilitates the development and creation of
    knowledge and of knowledge networks, resulting in
    greater e-services in trade, health, education,
    governance, etc.

21
Thank youltisa_at_apdip.netgt
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