GENDER AND ICT IN EAST AND WEST AFRICA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Yıl 2017, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1, 24 - 38, 01.02.2017

Shikha Vyas Doorgapersad A. Kithatu Kiwekete

Öz

In 2015, the global community, via the United Nations, adopted the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG) to provide strategic direction towards the elimination
of global poverty, safeguarding the environment and ensuring improved levels of
wellbeing for all. The transition from the previous international goals offers the
opportunity to emphasize and engage with gendered concerns, that is, the nexus
should propel the agenda for gender. Specific questions are raised to determine
whether gender and information and communication technologies (ICT) work
towards the SDG. How can gender and ICT contribute to the SDG narrative,
particularly in East and West Africa? These issues are analysed through a desktop
review, using case studies, country reports, national, regional and continental
policies. The findings reveal that inroads have been made to promote gender
equality in ICT but these must be scaled up under the new dispensation of
SDG. With this in mind, policy recommendations for improvement are offered.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Africa, gender, gender equality, development, information and communication technologies, sustainable development goals.