Despite the headway the world has experienced over the last couple of years in terms of a substantial increase in digital access, there are still significant challenges to overcome in ensuring women are included in the transformation to a digital society, which in turn will enhance productivity and social development. Efforts to increase internet adoption access through broadband plans and legislative reforms have yielded improvements in use and adoption. However, there is still a stark and pervasive gender inequality in terms of access, ownership of digital devices, digital fluency as well as the capacity to make meaningful use of the access to technology. Even though affordability is a key source of exclusion, there are also significant socio-cultural norms that restrict access for women. This paper brings forward the argument that access alone is not enough, women need agency and capacity to leverage access. The authors thus highlight the need to make an assessment of the global gender gap and develop meaningful indicators that contribute to the design and implementation of effective policies that drive adoption. We need effective promotion of women´s digital adoption not only from the government but also from the private sector and civil society in order to lead the digital adoption of best practices for women around the world.(Published as Global Solutions Paper) JEL J16 J24 O30
The digital divide in general, and between women and men in particular, is a manifestation of exclusion, poverty and inequality, and is likely to continue because of the effects of unemployment, poorly functioning digital skilling programmes and socio-cultural norms in some economies, and further depriving women equal access to digital services. Digital skills provide the poor a catalyst to break out of the cycle of poverty and empower themselves. This paper proposes a three-pronged digital skills strategy that will be required for developing countries to break out of the digital divide trap: (1) Monitor the evolving set of digital skills required for employment, (2) incorporate a holistic digital skills development strategy into national education programmes, and (3) contextualize skilling programs within prevailing socio-cultural norms that will shape the uptake and impact of digital skilling programs.(Published as Global Solutions Paper) JEL C83 J20 J22 J23 J24 F63 F66 F68 I24 I25 O15 O19
This article examines how India understands and negotiates norms for the provision of humanitarian assistance and R2P in political emergencies. Looking at these two related but distinct spheres of action together helps illuminate India’s understanding of international order, and the nature and scope of domestic and international responsibility in protecting populations from harm and deprivation. The article argues that while R2P and humanitarian assistance have both pluralist and solidarist underpinnings, India attempts to contain the meaning and practice of these spheres of action in a manner that is consistent with a pluralist view of international order.
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