Gender and National ICT Policy in Africa: issues, strategies, and policy options

Olatokun, Wole Michael

doi:10.1177/0266666907087697

Cited by 58 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“… Gender plays an important role within the socio-cultural environment in a country (Hafkin, 2002;Olatokun, 2008). A total of 26 men and 9 women agreed to participate in the study.…”

Section: Gapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

ICT Policies in Developing Countries: An Evaluation with the Extended Design‐Actuality Gaps Framework

Palvia

Baqir

Nemati

2015

E J Info Sys Dev Countries

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Information and communication technologies (ICT) are often represented as a factor in global economic growth and social development. Consequently, countries and governments invest large amounts of resources in the ICT sector. However, it is not certain whether the results of these investments necessarily match expectations. In order to investigate this conundrum, this study evaluates government policies for Information Communication Technologies (ICT) growth in a developing country by extending and utilizing the design-actuality gaps framework. A qualitative analysis of government's ICT policy documents (i.e., design) and interviews with 35 citizens and 54 government officials (i.e., actuality) shows significant design-actuality gaps. Additional insights are derived from two focus groups involving 11 citizens. The analysis shows that not only there are gaps between policy design and actuality but also the dimensions of design and actuality are different. The causes of these gaps are discussed along with implications for practitioners and a theoretical extension of the designactuality gaps framework. This research contributes to the literature on design-actuality gaps, ICT in developing countries, and government policy evaluation.

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“… Gender plays an important role within the socio-cultural environment in a country (Hafkin, 2002;Olatokun, 2008). A total of 26 men and 9 women agreed to participate in the study.…”

Section: Gapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

ICT Policies in Developing Countries: An Evaluation with the Extended Design‐Actuality Gaps Framework

Palvia

Baqir

Nemati

2015

E J Info Sys Dev Countries

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“…Mooko (2002Mooko ( , 2005 found far greater awareness of local community groups, as opposed to national level information, among women in rural Botswana. Olatokun (2008) indicates that unless gender issues in the use of ICT are addressed in Africa, women, particularly those in rural areas, will continue to be excluded by ICT. JDOC 66,1 Mehra et al (2002) used participatory action research in a study of information seeking and use in the Afya project to foster better health and welfare among Black women.…”

Section: Emancipationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Information behaviour of women: theoretical perspectives on gender

Urquhart

Yeoman

2010

Journal of Documentation

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Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there is a need to consider gender or sex differences as variables in information behaviour research and, if so, how? Design/methodology/approach -A metasynthesis approach is used. A preliminary framework to categorise information behaviour research on women is developed by integrating main themes from feminist research and information behaviour research. Within each category, studies are compared and contrasted, to identify similar and divergent themes. Themes are then compared across categories, to synthesise the main concepts. Findings -The categorisation works for most studies, apart from a group of studies on health information use, communicating risk and decision making. The meta-synthesis indicates the importance of concepts such as situation (as mesh), intermediaries (as node with connections), and connecting behaviour. Gender-related or, rather gender-ascribed, constructs, such as concern for others, not gender alone are likely to be important variables in information behaviour.Research limitations/implications -The meta-synthesis is a top-level synthesis, as the number of studies prohibited a more detailed approach. Further meta-synthesis of a few high quality research studies would help to confirm the findings. Practical implications -The synthesis illuminates a different perspective on information behaviour: the network of information users rather than the individual information seeker. Originality/value -The synthesis integrates some feminist research themes with information behaviour research, and the findings have implications for general information behaviour research. IntroductionThe aim is to examine whether there is a need to consider gender or sex differences as variables in information behaviour research, and if so, how. In many studies of the seeking and use of information by different groups, gender (sex) may be recorded as a demographic variable, but with no further examination of different behaviour that may be associated with women rather than men. This is, as Hupfer and Detlor (2006) point out, puzzling, as many studies have indicated sex differences in spatial orientation, attitude towards computers, and verbal skills -all factors that might influence information seeking preferences on the internet and use of electronic information services. In other research, by virtue of the group chosen (e.g. battered women,

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“…This paper makes a practical contribution in that, while there have been many studies on digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world (Olatokun, 2008), within the African continent (Fuchs & Horak, 2008;Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, & Adeya, 2004;Unwin, 2005), among genders (Kvasny, Payton, Mbarika, Amadi, & Meso, 2008), and between rural and urban areas at national levels (W. Chen & Wellman, 2004;Donnermeyer, & Hollifield, 2003;Furuholt, & Kristiansen, 2007;Rao, 2005), there are few studies exploring urban digital divide and especially among the marginalized communities in the low-income urban areas such as Nairobi. Best (2004) suggests that the "internet should be a human right in and of itself " (p. 23) and this study recommends that the government of Kenya should fill the digital divide gap that exists in its cities by providing the low-income urban communities with access to the internet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Closing the Digital Divide in Low-Income Urban Communities: A Domestication Approach

Wamuyu

2017

IJELL

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Aim/Purpose: Significant urban digital divide exists in Nairobi County where low income households lack digital literacy skills and do not have access to the internet. The study was undertaken as an intervention, designed to close the digital divide among low income households in Nairobi by introducing internet access using the domestication framework. Background: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have the potential to help reduce social inequality and have been hailed as critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development goals (SDGs). Skills in use of ICTs have also become a prerequisite for almost all forms of employment and in accessing government services, hence, the need for digital inclusion for all. Methodology: In this research study, I employed a mixed methods approach to investigate the problem. This was achieved through a preliminary survey to collect data on the existence of urban digital divide in Nairobi and a contextual analysis of the internet domestication process among the eighteen selected case studies. Contribution: While there have been many studies on digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world, within the African continent, among genders and between rural and urban areas at national levels, there are few studies exploring urban digital divide and especially among the marginalized communities living in the low-income urban areas. Findings: Successful domestication of internet and related technologies was achieved among the selected households, and the households appreciated the benefits of having and using the internet for the first time. A number of factors that impede use of internet among the marginalized communities in Nairobi were also identified. Recommendations for Practitioners: In the study, I found that use of differentiated costs internet services targeting specific demographic groups is possible and that use of such a service could help the marginalized urban communities’ access the internet. Therefore, ISPs should offer special internet access packages for the low-income households. Recommendation for Researchers: In this research study, I found that the urban digital divide in Nairobi is an indication of social economic development problems. Therefore, researchers should carryout studies involving multipronged strategies to address the growing digital divide among the marginalized urban communities. Impact on Society: The absence of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) inclusion policy is a huge setback to the achievement of the SDGs in Kenya. Digital inclusion policies prioritizing digital literacy training, universal internet access and to elucidate the social-economic benefits of internet access for all Kenyans should be developed. Future Research: Future studies should explore ways of providing affordable mass internet access solutions among the residents of low-income communities and in eliminating the persistence urban digital divide in Kenya.

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Gender and National ICT Policy in Africa: issues, strategies, and policy options

Cited by 58 publications

References 5 publications

ICT Policies in Developing Countries: An Evaluation with the Extended Design‐Actuality Gaps Framework

ICT Policies in Developing Countries: An Evaluation with the Extended Design‐Actuality Gaps Framework

Information behaviour of women: theoretical perspectives on gender

Closing the Digital Divide in Low-Income Urban Communities: A Domestication Approach

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