Caribou Digital, a research and advisory firm, highlights the impact of the gender gap in digital skills on women’s participation in the digital economy. Their report, “Youth in Digital Africa: Our Connections. Our Choices. Our Future,” produced in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, explores the implications of this gap.
The report features powerful personal stories from young people across Africa, addressing both the challenges and advantages of technology in the digital era. It points out that the gender gap in digital skills restricts women’s access to information, educational resources, and online employment opportunities. This gap also limits their involvement in the digital economy, entrepreneurship, and technology-related decision-making.
A 2023 UNICEF study of 32 countries revealed that for every 100 young men with digital skills, only 65 young women possess the same skills. UNICEF emphasizes the necessity for young adults in low- and middle-income countries to acquire digital skills, ranging from basic tasks like copying a file to more advanced skills such as creating electronic presentations, to prepare them for the digital workforce.
Caribou Digital recommends incorporating digital literacy into school curricula from an early age to equip future generations for success in the digital world. They also call for government collaboration with international tech companies to support training initiatives like tech hubs, e-libraries, and skill development centers, particularly in rural and low-income urban areas.
Grace Natabaalo, insights and research manager at Caribou Digital, notes that young women often face restrictions from family members, who discourage their use of mobile phones or social media due to unfounded concerns. Online spaces often amplify harmful gender norms, limiting women’s ability to fully benefit from the internet.
Natabaalo adds that young women frequently face sexual harassment, body shaming, and inappropriate requests online. She calls for African governments to hold social media companies accountable for online safety and to promote respectful online communication through public awareness campaigns.
She concludes that young women take pride in earning their own income independently and feel more empowered to pursue further business or work-related interests, leading to greater economic benefits for their countries.
