Description: The session aims at discussing strategies towards scaling-up capacity building efforts to develop low- income women and girls’ digital skills. In particular, it will seek to promote coordination strategies among actors working towards shared goals.
The meeting will bring together specialists from the Global South that will contextualize around the gender digital divide and capacity building initiatives to kick off the discussion.
It will be moderated by Kevon Swift, from LACNIC, giving each speaker five minutes to present key information.
Helani Galpaya, Chief Executive Officer of LIRNEasia will open the meeting briefly sharing key data and indicators on the digital gender divide in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Namita Aavriti, Content Coordinator from APC, will comment on the organization’s advocacy efforts to bring research on gender and ICT closer to policy reforms.
Alejandra Erramuspe from Agencia de Gobierno Electrónico y Sociedad de la Información y del Conocimiento de Uruguay will review public sector initiatives to promote digital innovations and bridge the gender digital divide.
Erika Kraemer-Mbula from the University of Johannesburg will speak about technology and innovation in capacity building programmes in African countries.
Lastly, the Internet Addresses Registry for Latin America and Caribbean (LACNIC), represented by Development Project Coordinator Carolina Caeiro, will be sharing the latest outcomes of its capacity building initiative for Haitian women and girls: Ayitic Goes Global.
Following these interventions, the moderator will give participants time to ask the speaker's questions or share comments before moving forward to debate the proposed policy questions.
Expected Outcomes: The session expects to:
- Promote reflection among participants regarding capacity building initiatives and its usefulness to narrow the gender digital divide.
-Map out outstanding capacity building initiatives for women and girls and serve as a networking experience for actors involved.
- Identify lines of coordinated action towards shared targets between the public and private sector.
- Set up good practice recommendations for capacity building initiatives centered around women and girls and the development of digital skills.