Organized in the context of the Aid for Trade Stocktaking Event 2021, the session "Tech as a driver of gender equality in the digital economy" took place on 25 March 2021 at 12:30-14:00 CET time. This session was co-organized by the Ministry of Communication, Information Technologies and Media and Ministry of Commerce, Transport, Industry, and Tourism of the Government of Burundi, the EQUALS Global Partnership and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), under the framework of the EIF-ITU Project Enhancing the Digital Ecosystem and Digital Skills for the economic empowerment of women in LDCs. This project aims to reduce the digital gender gap in countries such as Burundi, Haiti and Ethiopia, in the productive sectors of textiles/apparel and agriculture. The project will increase the economic opportunities of working-age women by enabling them to access and use ICTs effectively.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The future of the global economy is digital, yet, we must ensure women are able to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the digital revolution? Today, more than ever, the international development community has increased attention to the importance of ensuring gender parity in information and communication technologies (ICTs), as an engine for the development and improvement of social and economic conditions.
Many – if not all - entrepreneurs have had to adapt to the current circumstances that COVID-19 has brought, by moving their businesses online. This has been especially challenging for women entrepreneurs in least developed and developing countries. This session will thus focus on the importance of digital solutions such as e-commerce for women’s economic empowerment. The objective of the panel is twofold: discuss the challenges women entrepreneurs face in accessing digital tools to move their businesses online and, recognise the possible solutions to include more women in the digital world.
Participants shared their opinions and perspectives on these matters:
- What are the most significant challenges and barriers women entrepreneurs encounter when navigating the digital world through e-commerce? What are some of the success and failures that we could learn from?
- How can governments, regulators, private sector, and other stakeholders at the national level contribute to improving the access and use of e-commerce by women entrepreneurs? In which areas can stakeholders drive change (i.e. infrastructure, policy, etc.)?
AGENDA
Welcome and opening remarks
Keynote Speaker: Ms. Annette Ssemuwemba, Deputy Executive Director, Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)
Panel discussion
Moderator: Ms. Anne Rita Ssemboga, Programme Officer, ITU Regional Office for Africa
Panellists:
-Ms. Barbara Kotschwar – Executive Director, Visa Economic Empowerment Institute (VEEI)-Ms. Tamara Dancheva – International Relations Manager, GSMA
-Mr. Francis Oliver Cubahiro – Director of ICT Infrastructures and ITU Focal Point in Burundi, Ministry of Communication, Information Technologies and Media
-Ms. Robyn Smith, Gender, Inclusive and Sustainable Trade Policy Lead, Trade for Development Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom
-Ms. Ginette Karire – Vice President, Chambre Féderale de Commerce et d’Industrie du Burundi (CFCIB)
-Ms. Eliane Gasoni – Finance Manager, Burundi Friends International
Closing remarks
-Mr. Andrew Rugege, Director, ITU Regional Office for Africa
CO-ORGANISERS
