The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Division, has launched a regional project aimed at strengthening women’s participation in the digital economy across the continent.
Titled "Fostering digital Entrepreneurship Among Women in Africa", the initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 1,000 women entrepreneurs through digital literacy and financial management training in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Namibia and the Republic of the Congo.
The launch comes as the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy recognises digital skills as critical to the continent’s digital transformation and global competitiveness.
However, the strategy also notes that the region’s digital skills gap is exacerbated by gender disparities, with girls lagging behind boys.
According to ECA, the initiative responds to persistent structural barriers limiting women entrepreneurs’ access to digital skills, financial services and online markets. It also seeks to address gaps in policy and regulatory frameworks.
The institution said the project adopts a dual-track approach that simultaneously empowers women entrepreneurs and strengthens policymakers’ capacity to design inclusive and gender-responsive digital ecosystems.
The four-year project is expected to deliver its outcomes by 2029 and forms part of ECA’s broader efforts to promote inclusive digital transformation across Africa.
The organisation said that, by supporting women entrepreneurs and strengthening enabling policy environments, the initiative aims to contribute to more inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development across the continent.
Across the four participating countries, the initiative will deliver eight national workshops, one regional training programme, an online learning module and targeted study tours designed to strengthen practical skills, policy frameworks and regional knowledge exchange.
A key component of the initiative is the establishment of a multi-stakeholder coordination task force, announced during a recent virtual kick-off meeting that brought together departments from across the ECA.
The task force will oversee coordinated implementation, knowledge-sharing and alignment with national priorities across the participating countries, working closely with implementing UN entities and national counterparts.
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