The Dignified Digital Livelihoods Project, a collaborative initiative by Qhala and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), is a program focused on enhancing dignity for young women in Africa’s digital economy. The project's holistic approach engages various stakeholders, informed by the voices of young women themselves, addressing challenges in the gig economy.
Women in Africa’s gig economy face multiple hurdles, including discrimination, limited resource access, and safety concerns. Moreover, the global digital gender divide is notably growing in Africa, with women having lower levels of digital access and usage compared to men.
For instance, in 2019, women in Kenya were 39% less likely than men to have access to mobile internet and 23% less likely to own a smartphone. Additionally, women face greater vulnerabilities due to unequal labour market positions, limited access to technology, digital transformation programme, and safety concerns.
Enhancing dignity for young women in Africa’s digital economy
Dignified Digital Livelihood Impacts
Addressing the digital gender divide is crucial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initiatives like the African Girls Can Code, which trained 600 girls in coding and tech skills, demonstrate the potential for such efforts
The project raised awareness about the digital gender divide and gathered commitments for tackling these challenges, as seen in initiatives like the Generation Equality Forum
Encouraging young women to pursue careers in STEM: technology is a key strategy to address the gender imbalance in these fields
iWorkers Incubation
We believe there is huge potential to train women for the gig economy and empower them to earn respectable livelihoods from technology. By addressing these challenges head-on, initiatives can be designed to target these disparities specifically, offering women the tools and skills they need to thrive in the digital economy
