IGF 2018 WS #156 What does the data say? Analyzing the Gender Digital Divide
Format:
Round Table - 60 Min
Theme:
Human Rights, Gender & Youth
Subtheme:
GENDER EQUALITY
Organizer 1:
Claire Sibthorpe
, GSMA
Organizer 2:
Sharada Srinivasan
, University of Pennsylvania
Organizer 3:
Ursula Wynhoven
, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Speaker 1:
Aileen Agüero
, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 2:
Alison Gillwald
, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3:
Muge Haseki
, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4:
Claire Sibthorpe
, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5:
Helani Galpaya
, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 6:
Anja Kovacs
, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Relevance:
This panel highlights the  findings of the #AfterAccess (
http://afteraccess.net/
) survey conducted in 20 countries across the Global South in 2017 and 2018, as well as 1 World Connected case studies of initiatives that are trying to connect unconnected communities with a focus on enabling access to women. This panel  contributes to the current discussion on ICT gender inequalities in the Global South (Africa, Asia and Latin America). The findings of the nationally representative After Access survey provide a rare demand side view of gender differences in access and importantly ICT use in pre-paid mobile markets that characterises the Global South. Further, insights will be provided from case studies on some projects that are currently deployed in the field, and lessons that can learnt from them will be discussed . Gender inequality can also be located at the intersection of other inequalities such as class (income/education), race, location (urban/rural). This goes some way to nuancing conceptions of women and men, rather than treating them as homogenous groups as is done in much of the quantitative research and global indices on gender and ICTs.
Moreover, the modelling of the data enables us to move beyond the descriptive statistics that can mask such inequalities to identify the of drivers of inequality,  enabling more targeted policy interventions. The complementary case studies reveal the deeply entrenched drivers of inequality such as social and cultural norms, as well as attitudes towards women that  need to be taken into account when analysing women’s access and use of ICT that cannot be ascertained from quantitative studies. The discussants will also refer to focus groups conducted to further examine some of the findings of the surveys and to identify other explanations of gender inequality. There is also a clear need to discuss the mechanics of current interventions and policies, informed by evidence from actual experiences and case studies. This session seeks to present such research and experiences from the field, and discuss the ways that they can inform gender-responsive ICT policies
Session Content:
This session will look at both policies and practices that seek to empower women’s access and use of the internet. It will identify not just gaps but provide evidence on what works, and what does not. Part 1 - How is gender currently incorporated in ICT policies and practices? (Women's Rights Online Programme, A4AI, Research ICT Africa) Part 2 - What are different organisations doing in this space to increase women’s access and use to the internet ? (Amakomaya, Nepal; Claire Sibthorpe, Connected Women) Part 3 - Aggregating that research into policy-relevant insights (Muge Haseki)
Interventions:
We have invited both practitioners, researchers, and think tanks working in this space, along side business and inter-governmental representatives to highlight relevant research on the gender digital divide.
Diversity:
Organizers will ensure stakeholder group, gender and geographical diversity, as can be observed from the list of confirmed speakers. Gender balance has been encouraged through speaker choices and each speaker will bring unique expertise and experience to the topics discussed. Organizers will encourage remote participation on social media.
Online Participation:
The remote moderator will be involved throughout workshop planning to advise on where remote participation will need to be facilitated. The moderator will frequently communicate with the remote moderator throughout the session to ensure remote participants’ views/questions are reflected. As the remote moderator is one of the organizers and has extensive experience in online moderation at the IGF in the past, she will communicate with the onsite moderator and make necessary interventions during the workshop. The online moderator will also participate in training sessions for remote participation at IGF to ensure they have all the necessary information. As noted above, during the Q&A session, the remote moderator will animate the remote participation group. This will ensure remote participants are given the opportunity to interact with multiple experts remotely. Co-organizers will ensure that the workshop is promoted in advance to the wider community to give remote participants the opportunity to prepare questions and interventions in advance and to generate interest in the workshop. This would involve engagement through social media and our website. Organizers will also explore organizing a remote intervention from youth participants through remote hubs.
Discussion Facilitation:
The list below provides examples of the ways discussion will be facilitated amongst speakers, audience members, and online participants and ensure the session format is used to its optimum: Seating: Participants will sit around a large (circular) table (seating style permitting). Several roaming microphones will be used to facilitate discussion during the Q&A session (microphone availability permitting). This will facilitate discussion by creating an enabling and comfortable atmosphere where all speakers and participants are given an equal footing in the discussion. The moderator may walk around the room to engage participants as well. Media: We may consider use of images and Powerpoint presentations to aid those whose native language may not be English. Video material may also be considered to help engage remote participants. Preparation: Two preparatory calls and a preparatory meeting onsite will be organised for all speakers, moderators and co-organisers in advance of the workshop so that everyone has a chance to meet, share views and prepare for the session. Given the varied background of discussants and audience members, organisers will explore introducing some questions online in order to kickstart some discussion on social media in the run up to the workshop. The remote moderator will play an important role in sharing the ideas of remote speakers/participants and will encourage interventions through video. During the open discussion sections, open questions will encourage responses from participants and everyone will be given equal weight and equal opportunity to intervene. Walk-in participants will be encouraged to participate in the discussion by the moderator who will seek contributions from participants in person and remotely. Reporting: During the session summary, in order to encourage diverse contributions, the moderator willanimate discussion between experts and participants to help conclude and generate suggestions for possible next steps.
Onsite Moderator:
Christopher Yoo
Online Moderator:
Sharada Srinivasan
Rapporteur:
Muge Haseki
Session Time:
Tuesday, 13 November, 2018 -
09:00
to
10:30
Room:
Salle XI

