Report on Digital Rights, Gender Equality, and Sustainable Development in Africa

Introduction: The Digital Transformation and its Alignment with the SDGs

Africa is undergoing a significant digital transformation, presenting both opportunities for development and risks, such as increased vulnerability to cyber-attacks. This digital evolution is intrinsically linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A critical analysis reveals that the digital divide is heavily gendered, disproportionately affecting women. Addressing this gap is essential for achieving several SDGs, including SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). This report, based on insights from digital rights expert Winnie Aicha Tchedre, examines the challenges and solutions for fostering an inclusive digital environment in Africa.

Inclusive Digital Education: A Catalyst for Sustainable Development Goals

Digital education is a powerful tool for development and technological inclusion in Africa. However, for it to be effective and contribute to the SDGs, it must be designed with and for women and other marginalized groups. The failure to do so risks exacerbating existing inequalities, undermining progress towards SDG 5 and SDG 10.

Fostering Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment (SDG 5 & SDG 8)

The digital divide in many African nations, including Togo, is characterized by gender disparity. Women are more likely to experience “digital illiteracy”—a lack of skills in using digital tools—due to specific socio-economic and cultural barriers. Inclusive digital education is a direct pathway to achieving key development targets:

• Economic Empowerment: Successful digital training empowers women economically, granting them access to online marketplaces, teleworking opportunities, and new income streams, directly supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Access to Services: Digital literacy improves access to vital information and services, such as telemedicine and online administrative processes, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 16.
• Closing the Gender Gap: Encouraging a strong presence of girls and women in technology training is a fundamental step toward achieving SDG 5.

A Framework for Inclusive Project Design (SDG 9 & SDG 10)

To ensure digital projects effectively reduce inequalities, a structured, gender-inclusive approach is necessary from the outset. This aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation.

1. Gender-Based Analysis: Projects must begin with a diagnostic phase, collecting gender-disaggregated data to understand the specific needs, barriers, and potential impacts on both women and men. The West African Regional Communication Infrastructure Programme (WARCIP) is an example of a project that integrates components for women’s access to training.
2. Inclusive Co-Design: Women must be involved in the design phase of tools, platforms, and training programs to ensure they are user-friendly and relevant.
3. Accessible Content and Delivery: To overcome literacy barriers, content should be developed in local languages. Communication channels and training schedules must be adapted to be accessible to women, potentially using women’s associations as information relays.
4. Developer Awareness: It is crucial to sensitize digital tool developers to prevent the integration of gender bias into their products.

Barriers to Women’s Digital Access and Safety

Women face multifaceted barriers that limit their access to and safe participation in the digital sphere, hindering progress on multiple SDGs.

Sociocultural and Economic Obstacles

• Cultural Norms: Prevailing stereotypes, such as the notion that “women don’t belong in the digital world,” lead to exclusionary practices, including male control over women’s mobile devices.
• High Costs: The cost of internet connectivity remains a significant barrier for a majority of women, particularly in remote areas, limiting their ability to participate in the digital economy.
• Fear of Online Violence: The increasing prevalence of online harassment, scams, and abuse creates a climate of fear, discouraging women from fully engaging with digital platforms. This directly contravenes the targets of SDG 5 and SDG 16.

The Impact of Stereotypes and Algorithmic Bias

Gender stereotypes are reinforced and amplified in the digital realm, perpetuating inequalities. Algorithmic biases in search results, job suggestions, and advertising often marginalize women and reinforce traditional, domestic roles. This systemic issue undermines efforts to promote women as experts and role models, impacting SDG 5. The prevalence of sexist content on social media platforms further deepens women’s reluctance to participate fully in digital life.

Legal and Institutional Frameworks for Digital Equality (SDG 16)

Achieving digital gender equality requires robust legal frameworks and effective institutions, a core component of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Regional and National Legislative Efforts

Several regional initiatives aim to create a more inclusive digital environment:

• The Maputo Protocol and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) emphasize the fundamental principle of protecting women.
• The African Union’s Agenda 2063 and Gender Policy provide a strategic framework for inclusion.
• The Resolution on the Protection of Women Against Digital Violence in Africa (ACHPR/RES 2022) calls on states to adopt legislation to combat digital violence and broaden the definition of gender-based violence to include online abuse.

At the national level, countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Benin have passed laws criminalizing forms of online gender-based violence, including cyber harassment and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.

Gaps in Protection and the Path Forward

Despite these initiatives, significant challenges remain. Many laws are not proactive and fail to guarantee equal access specifically. Furthermore, public awareness of digital rights is low, meaning many victims do not know how to seek justice. In Togo, specialized police units and data protection centers exist, and major platforms have reporting features, but their use is limited by a lack of awareness.

For the future, binding laws on digital inclusion and strengthened provisions against discriminatory algorithmic biases are essential. Digital equality is not a luxury but an absolute prerequisite for achieving just and sustainable development across Africa, underpinning the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article’s central theme is the gender-based digital divide in Africa. It highlights how women are disproportionately affected by a lack of digital skills (“digital illiteracy”), limited access to technology, and online violence. Winnie Aicha Tchedre states, “the digital divide in African countries, like Togo, is gender-based… Digital illiteracy… most commonly affects women.” The discussion also focuses on solutions that promote women’s empowerment through technology, such as inclusive digital education and creating safe online spaces.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article emphasizes the critical role of “digital education” in fostering development and inclusion. It points out that a lack of skills is a major barrier, stating that “digital illiteracy, a lack of skills or knowledge in using digital tools, most commonly affects women.” The solution proposed is inclusive training programs designed for women and marginalized groups to provide them with relevant technological skills.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article directly addresses the inequalities between men and women in the digital sphere. It discusses how sociocultural barriers, gender stereotypes, and algorithmic biases marginalize women and worsen existing inequalities. Tchedre notes, “Without inclusive digital education that takes due account of gender, the inequalities that already exist will only worsen.” The goal is to promote the “social, economic and political inclusion of all” by ensuring women and marginalized groups are not left behind in the digital transformation.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• The article discusses the need for accessible and affordable digital infrastructure. A significant barrier identified is “the cost of internet connections, which is still unaffordable for most women, especially those in remote areas.” This directly relates to the goal of increasing access to information and communications technology (ICT) and providing universal internet access. The mention of the “West African Regional Communication Infrastructure Programme (WARCIP)” further links the discussion to infrastructure development.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• The article explores the legal and institutional responses to digital risks. It covers issues like cyber harassment, online violence against women, and the unlawful collection of personal data. It mentions the existence of a “specialized senior police unit and personal data protection centers” in Togo and discusses regional legal frameworks like the “Resolution on the Protection of Women Against Digital Violence in Africa.” This highlights the need for strong institutions and enforceable legislation to protect citizens’ rights and ensure justice in the digital realm.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article links digital education directly to economic opportunities. It states that “successful digital education facilitates women’s economic empowerment and access to information, the online marketplace, online administration, teleworking, and telemedicine.” By equipping women with digital skills, the initiatives discussed aim to improve their prospects for employment and economic participation.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women. The entire article is a discussion of this target, advocating for digital education and access to technology as tools for “women’s economic empowerment and access to information, the online marketplace, online administration, teleworking, and telemedicine.”
2. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. The article extends this target to the digital sphere, discussing the “increasing violence, harassment, insults, and scams” that women face online. It also mentions the need for laws to combat “cyber harassment and cyber defamation of a sexual nature.”
3. Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality. The article references several policies and legal frameworks, such as the Maputo Protocol, the African Union Gender Policy, and national laws in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Benin that “explicitly criminalize gender-based violence” online, demonstrating the push for enforceable legislation.

SDG 4: Quality Education

1. Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The article’s focus on overcoming “digital illiteracy” through training sessions that provide skills in using digital tools directly aligns with this target.
2. Target 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training. The article explicitly states that the digital divide is “gender-based” and calls for “inclusive digital education that takes due account of gender,” encouraging a “strong presence of girls at our training sessions” to eliminate this disparity.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet. The article identifies a key barrier as “the cost of internet connections, which is still unaffordable for most women, especially those in remote areas,” directly addressing the need for affordable access.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex… The article advocates for digital education to be “designed with and for women and other marginalized groups” to prevent the worsening of existing inequalities and foster digital inclusion.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence. The article calls for action against digital violence, including “cyber harassment, sexism, and the risks associated with the digital landscape,” and references the “Resolution on the Protection of Women Against Digital Violence in Africa.”
2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all. The discussion of legal frameworks, specialized police units, and data protection centers that can be “called in for the unlawful collection of personal data” speaks to strengthening the rule of law and providing avenues for justice for victims of cybercrime.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

For SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

• Proportion of women with access to and control over digital technologies: Implied by the statement that “women’s husbands often control their cell phones” and the general discussion of women’s limited access to technology. This is a direct measure for Target 5.b.
• Incidence of online gender-based violence: Implied by the discussion of “increasing violence, harassment, insults, and scams” on social media and the mention of report buttons on platforms like Facebook and TikTok for “sexist, hateful, or harassing content.” This measures progress towards Target 5.2.
• Number of countries with laws criminalizing digital gender-based violence: The article explicitly mentions that countries like “Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Benin” have laws that criminalize cyber harassment and other forms of online violence, serving as a clear indicator for Target 5.c.

For SDG 4 (Quality Education)

• Rate of digital literacy, disaggregated by gender: The article’s focus on “digital illiteracy” which “most commonly affects women” implies that measuring this rate is a key indicator of the problem and progress towards solving it (Target 4.4 and 4.5).
• Number of women and girls participating in digital skills training: Implied by the statement, “we encourage the strong presence of girls at our training sessions,” suggesting that enrollment numbers are a metric for success (Target 4.5).

For SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

• Affordability of internet access: The article directly states that “the cost of internet connections… is still unaffordable for most women,” making cost and affordability a critical indicator for measuring progress towards Target 9.c.

For SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)

• Number of cases of digital violence reported to authorities: The mention of a “specialized senior police unit” and “personal data protection centers that can be called in” implies that the number of reported cases is a relevant metric for tracking the response to cybercrime (Target 16.3).

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: globalvoices.org