MAKING TECHNOLOGY GENDER INCLUSIVE
In collaboration with Breakthrough

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Evidence shows that availability, access and usage of technology is highly gendered. According to a report - ‘State of the Internet Traffic Trend’, there is more than a 40% rise in the internet usage in the last few months. Dependence on digital medium of work and interaction skyrocketed for the social sector ventures as well. Along with the existing social media platforms to build awareness and engagement on social issues, video calling applications are being used for training/seminar/knowledge transfer purposes. Though shifting to digital spaces definitely made it easy to connect a large number of people with very limited resources, access still remains a challenge for people at the last mile.

Globally, there are 250 million fewer women online than men, and the gap is widening - from 11 per cent in 2013 to 12 per cent in 2016 (ITU, 2016). Women and girls being at the edge - when it comes to access and use of technology and gadgets, makes it very difficult for organisations working with women and girls to substitute physical interfaces with digital tools. Therefore, in the current context the entire digital interaction gets limited with a very small class of the society and excludes the most marginalised.

WHY WE ARE DOING THIS

In the days to come technology in various forms is going to affect and influence all spheres of our lives. Making use of technology for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment is an integral component of SDGs. Goal 5 of the SDGs, which stands for Gender Equality, talks about, ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls. One of the targets under Goal 5 exclusively states - Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.

It is in this context that Breakthrough and Arthan propose the following sessions to understand how technology can be made gender friendly and more accessible by women and girls. It is intriguing to note how during the pandemic, and lockdown situation, the gender gap in the use and access to technology has increased. We propose bringing together different stakeholders funders, experts, NGOs and policy makers to look forward to solution-specific strategies.

SESSIONS

September 22, 2020

September 23, 2020 - FREE TO ALL