Internet, Phones Offers Huge Opportunity for Women in Small Business
A growing evidence base shows access to and use of information and communication technologies (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, can yield socio-economic benefits, and particularly in developing countries. At the country level, access to digital technology can help boost gross domestic product (GDP) through job creation and greater productivity. Emerging markets in developing contexts can benefit from 1.2 per cent more GDP for every 10 per cent increase in mobile penetration. At the micro-level, certain studies have identified a positive relationship between income generation, owning a mobile phone, and internet use. However, despite the big opportunities that digital technologies can bring, not everyone is benefiting equally. There is a gender gap in terms of ICT access and use, with women and girls at the bottom of the economic pyramid being disproportionately affected. Recent data by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) suggest that, on...