Stories & blogs - Post
07
SepWomen often have less access to technology and the internet compared to boys and men. The gender digital divide in access to the internet remains the world’s largest in least developed countries and, at 32.9%, the gap is widest in Africa.
Did you know that while the Kenyan e-commerce sector is worth around $2bn, women are only half as likely as men to have access to the internet in Nairobi’s most deprived communities? Yet, if 600 million more women are connected to the internet in three years, this would translate to a rise in global GDP of between US$13 billion and US$18 billion
Online access brings business success
For someone like Damiana Musyoko, access to the internet meant the difference between a roadside stall selling fried fish with an income of US $160 a month and a commercial enterprise supplying hotel restaurants in Nairobi and sales of US $500 a month.
Bridging the digital divide
When Damania joined Hand in Hand’s Accelerator Programme, designed to equip successful micro-entrepreneurs to take their businesses to new heights, she was allocated a mentor and selected for additional training in digital marketing and sales. This included instruction on building her online product portfolio and setting up accounts on Facebook Marketplace and WhatsApp for Business. She also became a retailer on Jumia, Africa’s Amazon. Five months later, Damiana’s business was transformed.
“I have a Facebook account and I’m on TikTok. But it is the WhatsApp Business account that has made the difference. On WhatsApp I have 2,000 friends, so my posters get 200 views and many more shares. I deliver to hotels, clubs, church congregations. Hand in Hand, you have really made me grow!”
Damiana says.
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