Introducing

Handbook on

Mainstreaming Gender in Digital Policies

Acknowledgements

This handbook has been prepared by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) expert Mr Mario Filadoro, within the scope of ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) digital inclusion, policy and regulation thematic priorities, and with the kind support of the ITU Information Communications and Technology Development Fund and the Enhanced Integrated Framework.

Disclaimers

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) or of the secretariat of ITU concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or
of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by ITU in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted; the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.
All reasonable precautions have been taken by ITU to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of ITU or its membership.

Foreword

I am pleased to present the Handbook on mainstreaming gender in digital policies.

The Handbook is a first-of-its-kind guide that gives insights into how we can best support policy-making processes that advocate gender equality. It illustrates the concrete actions that policy-makers can take and offers an actionable checklist that supports the process of gender-equal policy-making, from gathering data and conducting research to measuring impact.

If the world is to achieve gender-equal digital inclusion in the future digital economy, Internet policies and strategies must enable an explicit focus on gender equality. This also means strengthening institutions and innovative policies that promote digital gender equality. This Handbook serves as an important tool to help us develop policies and solutions and puts gender equality at the centre, rather than on the side-lines, of policy-making.

Bridging the gender digital divide – in all its complexity and variability throughout the world – is essential work for all of us involved in building the global technological infrastructure. The digital future belongs to all of us, regardless of gender.

I encourage all stakeholders to use this Handbook to focus on gender digital equality and to work together to increase the impact of our efforts to achieve gender digital equality.

Executive Summary

Many women around the world find it more difficult than men to participate in the financial, educational, social and health resources of the digital technology-driven world. While digital gender divide has been narrowing across all regions in the world, women remain digitally marginalized in many of the world’s low-income countries. …

Introduction

Globally, on its current trajectory, it will take 135.6 years to close the gender gap: the average distance completed to parity is at 68 per cent, according to World Economic

1.1. Purpose and objectives

The handbook intends to be a practical tool for policy-makers on how to mainstream gender into current and future digital policies related to fostering connectivity ....

1.2. Existing handbooks on gender mainstreaming in digital policies

Existing handbooks on gender mainstreaming do not specifically target policy-makers involved in the formulation of digital policies (with very few exceptions). Some ...

1.3. Definitions: Gender mainstreaming; Practice, policy areas, regions

Gender mainstreaming in this handbook refers to the definition established by UN Women: “(…) a strategy, an approach, a means to achieve the goal of gender ...

1.4. Selection of practices

The selection of countries was made in consultations with ITU regional offices, which are best positioned to identify countries from their respective regions. Practices ...

Selected challenges faced by women in the digital space

Women face multiple challenges that prevent them to fully benefit from the opportunities offered by the digital space. This section does not intend to list them all but, rather, to focus on access to digital technology, access to digital skills …

2.1. Access to digital technology

In many parts of the world women and girls are typically at disadvantage when compared to men in terms of access ….

2.2. Access to digital skills

Women and girls find it more difficult than men to access programmes equipping them with digital skills in the area of science, technology, engineering ...

2.3. Financial inclusion

Although it has narrowed, a gender gap in access to finance still exists. Women are more likely to lack identification or a mobile phone ...

2.4. Entrepreneurship and leadership

When it comes to business and entrepreneurship, globally, 28.3 per cent of women hold managerial positions.36 Also, access to business networks …

2.4. Access to infrastructure and digital services

Women, particularly living in rural areas, find it more difficult than men to access to infrastructure and digital services. Globally, …

Informing women overcome challenges in different regions

This section offers a snapshot of practices around the world that addresses challenges identified in section 2. Most practices have been …

3.1 Overview of practices by region and by policy area

Practices on access to digital technology and to digital skills are common to all ITU regions. From a geographical perspective …

3.2 Africa

Access to digital skills is the most common practice (4 out of 6 practices covering this policy area), followed by access to digital technology ...

3.3 Americas

Access to digital skills is the most common practice (7 out of 8 practices covering this policy area), followed by access to digital technology ...

3.4 Arab States

Practices are characterized by a focus on, at least, a combination of access to digital skills and access to digital technology ...

3.5 Asia and the Pacific

Three out of four practices combine access to digital skills and access to digital technology. The other practice combines access to digital …

3.6 Commonwealth of Independent States

Both practices include access to digital skills but one of them combines this policy area with access to digital technology ...

3.7 Europe

All practices include access to digital skills. Two (out of four) combine this policy area with access to digital technology and with entrepreneurship ...

3.8 Focus on least developed countries

This sub-section is based on a practice put in place in three LDCs, in the context of a joint project of the Enhanced Integrated Framework ...

Setup for gender mainstreaming: institutions, coordination and national strategies

Gender mainstreaming practices presented in the previous section involve several stakeholders ranging from government institutions to private sector entitles and NGOs. When it comes to government institutions, practices show that institutions that put in place gender mainstreaming practices are those that put in place digital policies (i.e., ministries in charge of ICT, ICT regulators, etc.). This section analyses the role of ministries in charge of ICT and other ministries influencing the digital economy, identifies institutionalized coordination mechanisms for connecting digital policies to gender, and highlights the link between gender mainstreaming practices to national strategic documents such as overarching national ICT policies.

4.1 Government institutions in charge of ICT

Mainstreaming gender in digital policies does not seem to have a specific institutional set-up. Table 10 below provides an overview of the main government ...

4.2 Institutionalized coordination between digital policies and gender

Gender mainstreaming practices reported few institutionalized coordination mechanisms around gender in digital policies. ...

4.3 Alignment with national strategies

National strategies include overarching ICT policies or master plans setting objectives and priorities that guide the process of making digital ...

Lessons learned, conclusion, check-list and way forward

Some gender mainstreaming practices are more popular than others. Practices helping women and girls to access digital skills are the most reported in the pool of practices

Annexes

Annex 1

Methodology for assessing policy documents and regulations

Annex 2

Information about practices per region