Opening The Digital Sector To Africa’s Women

Benefits of empowering Africa women to participate in the digital economy

The digital economy is very vital in the modern world. Unfortunately, women in the informal sector in Africa cannot access technological services. This is because most African countries are still in the development phase, and they are bound by cultural biasness, reduced job security, mobility restrictions, as well as lack of exposure. There are a lot of benefits associated with introducing African women to technological services in running their businesses

Remote working

As women are known to be home keepers in nature, they can still go on with their work from the comfort of their homes and reach the global market. With the possibility of marketing their services, they can reach a wider market and be able to efficiently communicate with their customers as they monitor their business development.

Gender parity

Gender inequality is a problem that needs to be eradicated in every sector of today’s world economy. Men and women need to have equal opportunities in business. To get rid of the superstition that men are better than women in business, introducing women to technological ways of running their businesses will be a viable solution.

Economic growth

Empowering women’s economic development increases productivity. Through increased economic diversification and income equality, development is observed in the economy. This is because of the gender-based gaps which are said to cost the economy up to 15% of GDP.

Developing more productive business ideas

Women also have ideas and talents in terms of business management. Involving them in the economic development of any country will boost the country’s growth. As they bring in more ideas and business initiatives to the market, innovations are realized, which helps save on cost and maximize profits.

Reducing unemployment

In most developing countries, employment is scarce for most people. Therefore, they opt for jobs in the informal sector. With the most significant percentage of these people being women, accessing technology for them becomes difficult. Suppose they are empowered to embrace modern technological services, they can grow their businesses and employ more people. This reduces dependency on governmental help as well as crime rates.

Ways in which African governments can foster or support digital literacy for women in Africa

From the listed benefits of empowering women to join the digital economy, it is clear that such a move is essential to African countries and the world at large. However, it takes a lot of strategies to accomplish this and reach out to women in the informal sector to join the digital market. The strategies that African governments can use to ensure that this is achieved are:

Civic education

Employing people to reach out to women running the informal business to engage in technological services in businesses is essential. In doing so, they should be trained on the benefits of using social media platforms to advertise the goods and services as well as the importance opening up online platforms where customers can access and order their products or services.

Cheaper internet charges

Many women across the African countries complain that they cannot afford internet packages offered. Suppose the government subsidizes the charges given to internet services provided to women in business, they will make it easier for the women to use the internet to improve on their businesses.

Provision of gadgets

Internet gadgets like smartphones and tablets may be too expensive for businesswomen in the informal sector. However, if they can access them for free or at a lower price, it may help them improve on their provision of services and goods and provision of market development wherever they are.

Opening up seminars and conferences for women

If women are funded and allowed to showcase their businesses, they can reach a broader range of customers and increase their productivity. If this information is spread through the internet, it can reach its target group globally, and the same women can be able to boost their businesses to fit into the modern world.

Bridging the gap between men and women’s salary

According to statistics presented by the United Nations, women have lower wages compared to men. If this gap is bridged ad women are offered equal opportunities as men, they can develop more confidence and believe in themselves to also match up to men’s way of running their business. Therefore, they will engage in using the internet to sustain and maintain their businesses maximizing on their profits.

In a Nutshell,

Women need a way of earning a living and reduce their dependent rate on men. Excluding them from the traditional markets makes the situation worse. However, if they are involved in the modern digital economy, they become more enlightened, and that can boost their businesses to reach more people.