All Things Talent had the privilege of participating in the Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF), where we had the opportunity to engage in an insightful conversation with Claire Sibthorpe, Head of Digital Inclusion at GSMA. Claire shared her expertise on driving digital inclusion for women, addressing critical barriers, and the transformative potential of emerging technologies. From tackling affordability and skills gaps to envisioning a future where women lead the digital revolution, her insights offer a roadmap for a more equitable and connected world.
In your view, what are the most transformative economic effects of including more women in the digital economy? Can you share any data or anecdotes that highlight the ripple effect on communities when women have greater digital access?
Sure. I suppose we will start at a high level. We have just published, two weeks ago, a report that examined the impact on GDP if we close the digital gender gap by 2030. It is over a trillion dollars in GDP, which is significant. So, it is a huge economic opportunity. For women themselves, this provides access to information and services that they have not had before. Our research shows that often for the first time, women gain access to health services, financial services, and critical information. For many women, this is life-changing.
We have heard stories today about women who no longer have to travel as far and have been able to improve their livelihoods. When you see these benefits being extended to women, it is not just our research but also other studies that show they pass these benefits on to their families.
For example, we heard today about a woman who used her newly acquired skills to train her children, enabling them to develop new skills as well. This improves household incomes, enhances health and education for families, and ultimately benefits entire communities.
If you consider the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), not just SDG 5, which focuses on women’s empowerment, you can see how digital inclusion, particularly for women, has the potential to make a significant difference across all areas.
How do you think women’s digital inclusion can reshape traditional gender roles in rural and semi-urban areas? Could there be long-term societal shifts beyond just economic upliftment?
Yes, I think there are two aspects to this.
Firstly, it is not just an economic impact, but it also affects livelihoods, health outcomes, and education outcomes. Empowering women benefits not just them but also their families.
Secondly, some of the societal factors that contribute to the gender gap can, in turn, be transformed by addressing this gap. Empowering women through digital inclusion has the potential to challenge and reshape traditional gender roles over time.
What are some creative ways WiDEF has broken down the barriers to women’s inclusion? Which interventions have shown the most promise in achieving sustainable, empowering change?
I think the challenge lies in the fact that there are many different barriers, and they are all interrelated. When we look at the research conducted by GSMA, we see that a lack of skills and literacy is a significant barrier, particularly in India, that needs to be overcome, but affordability is another key issue. For instance, we heard today that affordable handsets and data are critical. Additionally, it is essential to have relevant content and services. Women need to feel safe online, and their families need to feel secure about women accessing the internet.
Our experience shows that it is important to target some of the biggest barriers, such as skills and affordability, but it is equally critical to recognise that no single barrier can be tackled in isolation. A holistic approach is necessary, one that considers all these different factors. Social norms also exacerbate some of these barriers, adding to the complexity of the challenge.
Our research and experience demonstrate that adopting an evidence and data-driven approach, where the top barriers are identified and addressed while considering the other interconnected barriers, is the most effective strategy. It is through this holistic approach that we see real progress being made.
In what ways can emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and mobile internet drive digital inclusion in underserved communities, and how can organisations balance accessibility and affordability with data privacy and security, especially for women?
That’s a good point. It is important to ensure that access is responsible, meaning that women, for example, have the skills to protect themselves online and keep themselves safe. It is not simply about providing access; we need to consider all these different factors holistically.
It is crucial to adopt a gender-intentional approach in all these efforts. When considering new technologies like AI, if we do not address the biases inherent in these technologies or the unintended consequences from a gender perspective, they could disproportionately and negatively impact women.
Therefore, having a very deliberate and gender-intentional approach is essential. This should apply both to the design and delivery of these services and to ensuring that women have the skills and knowledge needed to use these technologies in ways that benefit them while keeping them safe.
Speaking of privacy, I believe a lot of it comes down to education. For example, we conducted some research a few years ago that revealed a significant gap in awareness. Many women, even those using basic applications like Facebook, knew how to use the app but were unaware that privacy settings existed to keep their profiles private.
At a very fundamental level, it is a lack of knowledge—both about the risks involved and the measures available to protect themselves. This is why I think developing digital skills is so important.
It is a two-way process: designers must ensure that products and services are delivered in a way that includes accessible features like privacy settings. At the same time, we must equip women with the skills and knowledge to understand the risks and the steps they can take to mitigate them.
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How do you see India’s digital inclusion landscape evolving compared to other regions, and are there specific success stories or case studies from around the world that could serve as models for India and other emerging economies?
Yes, I think India is really driving much of the progress we are witnessing in the region and across low and middle-income countries. For example, globally, we saw a slowdown in women’s digital inclusion after the lockdown-induced spike in connectivity ended. However, in the past year, our Mobile Gender Gap Report, published in June, highlighted that India is seeing a decrease in the gender gap. This progress is significant and is driving an overall reduction in the gap across the region because more women are going online compared to men. In fact, men’s connectivity growth has slightly stalled in the past year.
This trend is very positive, and India has set some great examples. For instance, reductions in handset and data costs in India have led to a narrowing gender gap, even though significant gaps still exist across South Asia, including India. These affordability measures have had a tangible impact. Additionally, we are now seeing initiatives, such as Jio’s recent push on digital skills, which are contributing to this progress.
We also observe similar interventions in other countries. Many regions are implementing handset affordability initiatives, such as financing devices to make them more accessible. These efforts are often paired with digital skills training, ensuring that women know how to use these devices effectively. Moreover, ensuring that the devices provide access to relevant services makes a significant difference.
It is clear that addressing affordability alongside other barriers, such as digital skills and content relevance, is essential. When these comprehensive approaches are implemented, we see substantial progress in reducing the gender gap and promoting digital inclusion.
Is there any specific case study or example that stood out to you as a revelation in this context? Perhaps from India or another economy?
I think a significant example from India was the launch of the JioPhone. When the maiden version was introduced, it was far more affordable, and the accompanying data plans were highly accessible. We observed a notable shift in digital inclusion as a result of this initiative. It is the kind of impactful measure that creates a significant difference.
Similarly, in other countries, we have seen comparable results when handset affordability initiatives are implemented. Affordability remains the largest barrier globally, and these kinds of large-scale efforts lead to noticeable progress.
In India, while reducing handset costs had a major impact, it is now recognised that affordability must be paired with skills development. There is a current push to address this gap, acknowledging that both factors need to go hand in hand for sustainable progress.
Imagine it is 2040 — what does an ideally digitally inclusive world look like? Are there any unconventional trends or shifts you think we would see, especially in terms of gender and access?
I think that would be fascinating to imagine. At present, our focus is on achieving gender parity online, ensuring the same number of women are connected as men. While that is a critical milestone, we need to think beyond just numbers.
We need to reach a point where not only are women online, but they are using digital services as actively and effectively as men. Right now, even when women are online, their engagement levels tend to be lower. The goal should be to bridge not just access gaps but usage gaps as well. Moreover, it is essential to see women not just as users of technology but as creators, leaders, and innovators in the digital space. A truly inclusive world would have women contributing, producing, and driving technological advancements at the same level as men.
If you could place a giant billboard anywhere in the world with one powerful message about digital inclusivity, where would it be, and what would it say?
Goodness, that is such a challenging question! (laughs) Hmm, where would I place it? I think I would position it somewhere highly visible to the leaders and key decision-makers who drive change; those with the power to make a real difference.
Women themselves already recognise the importance of being online, and there is strong evidence of their desire to connect and engage more digitally. For instance, our research shows women actively want greater access and opportunities online.
The billboard’s message should target leaders and influencers, including men, to emphasise that this is not just a women’s issue. Digital inclusivity benefits everyone. My message would convey that “this is as much a woman’s world as it is a man’s”. It should highlight the transformative power of women being online and place them at the forefront of this digital evolution, inspiring those who can enable change to take decisive action.
Claire Sibthorpe is the Head of Digital Inclusion in the Mobile for Development (M4D) team at the GSMA. She leads the Connected Women and Connected Society programmes, which focus on accelerating digital inclusion for underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries. Connected Women specifically aims to advance digital and financial inclusion for women. She also serves as the lead at the GSMA on the Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF), managed by the GSMA, CARE, and GDIP, which is dedicated to identifying, funding, and accelerating evidence-based solutions to close the gender digital divide.
