Engendering E-Government in Developing Countries

This article explores the necessity of recognising that women and men have different patterns of using computers and internet and the importance of national governments employing gender analysis when launching e-government initiatives.

According to the article, in many industrialised countries, female use of the internet is comparable to that of males, but women use it mostly for practical purposes, i.e. to find specific information or to shop. Women and girls are less likely to spend time surfing and playing computer games. In most developing countries, women are less likely than men to use the internet because they do not have access, they do not have skills, they do not have disposable income or they do not have time and/or interest. Therefore, the author proposes, the idea that information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be a vehicle for making government services and public participation more widespread is flawed by the fact that men and women have different user patterns. According to the author, many telecommunications regulatory agencies both in the North and in the South have given insufficient attention to gender analysis, with the result that existing regulatory structures are posited on the assumption that men and women have equal access and similar needs.

The article mentions that in developing countries, the primary users of computer-based ICTs are members of the elite, who have both the necessary skills and financial resources. This is not true of cellular phones, which have been adopted widely by men and women of every social class in countries where they are available at a reasonable price. In most developing countries, people gain access to computers through offices or through public access points such as internet cafes, public kiosks or telecentres. Multipurpose telecentres have become common in many rural areas, offering not only internet access but also a wide range of other services including fax, telephone, television/ video, libraries and often computer training. Even though these often charge a nominal fee, it is still a barrier to women users as a result of less disposable income and often lack of decision making power over family income.

The author proposes that the inclusion of women and girls in e-government is likely to occur only if at least some of the following factors are in place:

• a strong commitment by national government to e-government services that are designed in such a way as to be available to all citizens;
• telecommunications policy frameworks that ensure that the needs of girls and women are part of the national structure;
• ICT training for girls and women;
• affordable connectivity and safe, convenient centres where women can use computers (telecentres, post offices, community centres, etc.);
• clearly designed content in local languages; and
• feedback mechanisms that allow women and girls to have input into e-government.

The author suggests that these are some of the issues that should be considered by national governments as they begin to design e-government services. Unless gender analysis is given careful attention, women and girls are less likely to benefit from such services.