By Bahle Gama
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, calls are being made to address the digital divides that exist.
Anglophone Africa, WorldRemit Director Darryl Pietersen says as the world will commemorate International Women’s Day on Wednesday, it is crucial to address the digital gender divide.
He stated that these gaps are inherent in some of the challenges across the development spectrum from poverty alleviation to climate change.
According to Pietersen, while technology and innovation hold great promises for marginalized communities, including women across the African continent, conversations around women’s access to digital technologies remain topical.
“In Zimbabwe, a history of economic collapse, poverty, lack of education and employment equality has, over the years, weakened the country’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector, heightening the digital divide and creating a digital gender gap,” said Pietersen.
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He stated that as is the case in the rest of the Sub-Saharan region, “women and girls in Zimbabwe are disproportionately impacted by other challenges affecting the rest of the world today.”
They are more exposed to challenges such as poverty, high inflation rates, and high maternal mortality. He referenced a finding by the World Food Programme released in November 2022 which indicated that Zimbabweans were significantly experiencing price spikes, supply chain disruptions, and a general deterioration of macro-economic.
“Especially for the vulnerable sections of the society, who include women as a result of the economic crisis in Ukraine,” said Pietersen.
According to the report, high inflation has continued eroding the purchasing power of vulnerable urban households who rely on the market for essential needs and face challenges in meeting their basic needs without external assistance.
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Additionally, the digital financial exclusion of women has made it difficult for many women to save, invest or start their businesses. In Africa, women’s access to digital services, and mobile and internet connectivity is limited due to illiteracy, cost, skills gap, and social norms.
Further, only a third of women in the continent have access to formal financial channels compared to 43 per cent of men. The Director stated that this gap and limited access to economic assets escalate women’s vulnerability and exclusion from profitable sectors and jobs.
“Hence, providing women with digital financial services will increase economic empowerment, as women with more control over their finances are less likely to experience financial abuse,” he said.
The Director is of the view that digital technology and innovation have created new ways to connect, share experiences, work, and build communities regardless of geographic boundaries.
Therefore, it continues to be an influential tool in enhancing growth and expanding opportunities for women’s rights across the world.
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“Through WorldRemit, a global digital payments company, remittances sent to Zimbabwe are helping fight poverty and promote economic development. A World Bank finding indicates that remittances are a vital source of household income and help recipient households build resilience, enabling them to cope better with losses in the aftermath of disasters,” he said.
He added that the funds were being channeled towards education, healthcare, and opening new businesses as this enables women to support their families, achieve their dreams and ultimately grow the country’s economy.
“By leveraging technology, we deliver quick, secure, and convenient money transfer services supporting women and girls’ advancement and inclusion not just in Zimbabwe but across the continent,” he said.
