Every year on March 8, the whole world celebrates International Women’s Day. It is an opportunity to take a look back at the progress made in terms of women’s rights. Beware of those who confuse this occasion with the simple celebration of feminine beauty, the consecration of women. This day was celebrated around the theme: “ Committed leadership for innovative digitalization in favor of gender equality ».
Benjamin Kuriyo, Director of publications
The contribution of ICT is undeniable today in all sectors of socio-economic life. The advent of the Internet and mobile telephony are some of the most significant advances in digital transformation recorded by the world in general and Burundi in particular.
In our country, the Government continues to invest more to provide the country with infrastructure likely to improve its economic growth through the use of ICTs, including the digitization of public services and access to communication terminals (Internet, telephony, etc).
Innovative young entrepreneurs are in turn seizing the ball. They innovate with 100% connected start-ups. We will cite as an example cryptograms at the origin of the electronic money i HELA, many online media, connected taxis, online sales with Baza or even the digital giant MEDIA BOX which are sweeping up the markets for geomatics , online polls and/or surveys, cartography, robotics, drones, HOGI Academy, etc. it’s about the Silicon valley Burundian company which imposes itself by their creativity and their know-how in high tech. Unfortunately, it is clear that few women hold a large share in these companies compared to their male counterparts who enjoy a virtual monopoly. For some companies, women are omnipresent but overall remain underrepresented in the field of ICT. There is still work to do to aspire to inclusive digitalization.
Furthermore, the digital gender gap has been shown to amplify economic and social inequalities. The exclusion of women in the development of more creative solutions limits their potential for innovation. This has serious enormous financial repercussions. According to a recent UN WOMEN study on gender equality carried out in 2022, the exclusion of women from the digital world accounts for a shortfall of USD 1,000 billion in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of income countries low and intermediate over 10 years. This colossal loss will reach 1.5 trillion USD by 2025 if nothing is done immediately, warn the authors of this study.
To reduce the gap between the two sexes, it is therefore important to make girls aware of attending scientific and/or technical courses. They must break taboos and prejudices to demonstrate their know-how and impose themselves on the job market. Dear sisters, technological innovation is not the prerogative of men. Moreover, professions have no gender. In short, you must exploit the opportunities around you to maximize your chances in the digital world.