Strategies for including a Gender Perspective in African Information and Communications Technologies(ICTs) Policy

Abstract

African policy makers face many economic, social and political challenges as they seek to improve material living standards and quality of life, and undertake their task of transformation in a context of complexity, rapid change, and uncertainty. Having observed the positive impacts of science and technology, and in particular the revolution in information and communications technologies (ICTs), in wealthier nations, policy makers in Africa are turning their attention to this area of economic activity. This paper is concerned with strategies to secure the potential economic benefits of ICTs for all groups in society for as we will show, without a gender perspective, there is no guarantee that potential benefits will not by pass girls and women. The economic benefits for girls and women in terms of enhanced income generation opportunities, employment and improved quality of life are tremendous, but since technologies are not neutral, we will also be concerned with advocating ICT strategies which reduce and manage the potential for ICTs to lead to economic and social exclusion and to reinforce existing social disparities. In other parts of the world this dual character of ICTs wherein these technologies can simultaneously produce economic benefits and social dislocation is coming under increasing scrutiny from academics, and other critical thinkers and their insights are being brought to influence policy debate. The central purpose of this paper is to outline strategies for introducing a gender dimension into national lCT policies.