Abstract Book of the 3rd World Conference on Gender Equality
Year: 2025
[PDF]
The Digital Divide and Digital Inclusion in Developing Countries
Raïssa Lonko Kepseu
ABSTRACT:
In developing countries such as Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, Congo DR, and the Central African Republic, there is still a notable inequality due to the digital divide in the workplace. This highlights an impact on the digital inclusion of women, who are less likely to have access to the Internet during their education and training. These women, unlike men, often have fewer opportunities to acquire the digital skills necessary to use technology. Also, gender stereotypes have often discouraged women from engaging in technological fields despite the efforts of the government and the African Information Institute through the 100,000 Women Trained in Computer Science operation. Thus, it appears that this produces consequences such as economic exclusion because women who do not have access to technology can be excluded from economic opportunities. In addition, the limitation of autonomy due to the lack of access to technology affects decision-making and control over their family and professional lives. To achieve this, the way out for women from this digital quagmire is to increase training programs to enable them to acquire the necessary digital skills; provide access to the Internet and technologies for women, particularly in rural areas; and launch initiatives such as mentoring programs and coding competitions to assess their involvement and effectiveness for better promotion of digital inclusion among women working in the public and private sectors.
Keywords: Gap, skills, digital, inclusion, women