Linking African Women Entrepreneurs

UNIFEM is working to build strategic partnerships with African IT entrepreneurs in the Diaspora to harness their financial resources and IT and business expertise to tackle the challenges of feminised poverty. UNIFEM will provide training for African women's organisations and business associations in the use of ICTs, increase their access to financial support, and help them create networks between entrepreneurs in the Diaspora and in Africa, as well as private-sector and foundation partnerships.

Women, Technology, Economic Development.

In a continent with 54 countries and over 700 million people, Africa houses one percent of the world's internet users. There are an estimated 1.5 telephone lines per 100 people, as compared with 64 per 100 people in the United States. Though Africa is a poor continent, the cost of equipment is high. This problem might be addressed through policy and infrastructure development. Some feel that political will at very high levels will be necessary to create the infrastructure needed to bring ICTs to African women.

A Global Advisory Committee comprised of African IT entrepreneurs living in the Diaspora and in Africa, as well as representatives from the private sector and the UN system, worked with UNIFEM to develop this programme. Through UNIFEM's programme, Advisory Committee members hope to address the need for country policies that facilitate internet connectivity and provide low-cost internet access in order to make technology a part of African women's everyday lives.