Examining the gender digital divide: A case study from rural Kenya

Worldwide, cell phones are used by 5.4 billion people. They are becoming increasingly prevalent in the rural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), providing smallholder farmers with access to agricultural markets. If they reduce information asymmetries between women and men farmers, the...

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Main Authors: Ferguson, Nathaniel, Seymour, Greg, Azzarri, Carlo
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/134859
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author Ferguson, Nathaniel
Seymour, Greg
Azzarri, Carlo
author_browse Azzarri, Carlo
Ferguson, Nathaniel
Seymour, Greg
author_facet Ferguson, Nathaniel
Seymour, Greg
Azzarri, Carlo
author_sort Ferguson, Nathaniel
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Worldwide, cell phones are used by 5.4 billion people. They are becoming increasingly prevalent in the rural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), providing smallholder farmers with access to agricultural markets. If they reduce information asymmetries between women and men farmers, they can also contribute to closing the gender gap in agricultural productivity. So far, however, digital innovations have had limited success in transforming agricultural systems. This may be due, in part, to the gender gap in cell-phone use. Rural women in LMICs—particularly those with low incomes, low literacy levels, or disabilities—are less likely than rural men to have access to cell phones, the Internet, digital currency, or other digital services. This policy note summarizes research intended to shed light on the impact of cell-phone ownership and use on the gender gap in agricultural productivity in LMICs.
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spelling CGSpace1348592025-11-06T04:45:49Z Examining the gender digital divide: A case study from rural Kenya Ferguson, Nathaniel Seymour, Greg Azzarri, Carlo communication technology rural areas smallholders agriculture markets agricultural productivity gender Worldwide, cell phones are used by 5.4 billion people. They are becoming increasingly prevalent in the rural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), providing smallholder farmers with access to agricultural markets. If they reduce information asymmetries between women and men farmers, they can also contribute to closing the gender gap in agricultural productivity. So far, however, digital innovations have had limited success in transforming agricultural systems. This may be due, in part, to the gender gap in cell-phone use. Rural women in LMICs—particularly those with low incomes, low literacy levels, or disabilities—are less likely than rural men to have access to cell phones, the Internet, digital currency, or other digital services. This policy note summarizes research intended to shed light on the impact of cell-phone ownership and use on the gender gap in agricultural productivity in LMICs. 2023-11-21 2023-11-29T22:17:46Z 2023-11-29T22:17:46Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/134859 en https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136919 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Ferguson, Nathaniel; Seymour, Greg; and Azzarri, Carlo. 2023. Examining the gender digital divide: A case study from rural Kenya. GCAN Policy Note 17. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136978.
spellingShingle communication technology
rural areas
smallholders
agriculture
markets
agricultural productivity
gender
Ferguson, Nathaniel
Seymour, Greg
Azzarri, Carlo
Examining the gender digital divide: A case study from rural Kenya
title Examining the gender digital divide: A case study from rural Kenya
title_full Examining the gender digital divide: A case study from rural Kenya
title_fullStr Examining the gender digital divide: A case study from rural Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Examining the gender digital divide: A case study from rural Kenya
title_short Examining the gender digital divide: A case study from rural Kenya
title_sort examining the gender digital divide a case study from rural kenya
topic communication technology
rural areas
smallholders
agriculture
markets
agricultural productivity
gender
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/134859
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