Mobile Active Oct 13, 2008 Uganda: Women & Mobile Kathleen Diga

WHY? When women’s position improves, the environment benefits (Sen) “ While technology empowers, it also… affects gender relations” (Hafkin) “ What valuable innovations/ insights/economic change are missed in my community when women are excluded from the knowledge society?”

When women’s position improves, the environment benefits (Sen)

“ While technology empowers, it also… affects gender relations” (Hafkin)

“ What valuable innovations/ insights/economic change are missed in my community when women are excluded from the knowledge society?”

CONTEXT & STUDY UGANDA: 3.5 million subscribers, 2.4 billion minutes (2006/07) RESEARCH QUESTION: What substitution choices did an individual within a household make in exchange for mobile phone services?

UGANDA: 3.5 million subscribers, 2.4 billion minutes (2006/07)

FINDINGS INCOME: daily allowances from husbands ($1 or less), small business FACT: 3 mins off-peak same network: $0.40 USD SUBSTITUTE EXPENSES: Travel Store-Bought Foodstuffs

INCOME: daily allowances from husbands ($1 or less), small business

FACT: 3 mins off-peak same network: $0.40 USD

SUBSTITUTE EXPENSES:

Travel

Store-Bought Foodstuffs

MEANING Are the sacrifices contributing to the detriment or improvement of the livelihoods of women? PERCEPTION: “ Mobile is Development” “ Mobile is Poverty”

Are the sacrifices contributing to the detriment or improvement of the livelihoods of women?

Gender Research Education: School and Mobile Phone training STRATEGIES

Gender Research

Education: School and Mobile Phone training

Thank you Kathleen Diga Acacia – ICT4D Africa IDRC [email_address]

Kathleen Diga

Acacia – ICT4D Africa

IDRC

[email_address]