Digital Skills for Her: How to Advance Women’s Digital Literacy in LMICs

The World Bank’s report highlights the persistent digital gender gap in low- and middle-income countries and outlines evidence-based strategies to improve women’s digital literacy through inclusive design, community engagement, and targeted training. It emphasizes that closing this gap is essential for gender equality and unlocking economic growth.

In a world increasingly driven by digital connectivity, a stark and persistent divide continues to exclude women, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), from full participation in the digital economy. The World Bank’s report, developed under the G2Px Initiative in collaboration with global institutions such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNESCO, GSMA, the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, and Intel’s She Will Connect, delves into the root causes of this divide and offers practical solutions. Despite mobile internet becoming more accessible, women are 15 percent less likely than men to use it, resulting in 265 million fewer women online. Closing this gap could generate more than $1.3 trillion in GDP across LMICs between 2023 and 2030, according to GSMA. But more than just an economic opportunity, digital inclusion for women represents a gateway to autonomy, knowledge, safety, and empowerment.

Barriers at the Crossroads of Infrastructure and Inequality

The digital exclusion of women is not a product of a single issue but a web of structural challenges that include limited infrastructure, unaffordable technology, educational disparities, and deeply embedded social norms. Many rural or conflict-affected regions still lack basic connectivity, and even where networks are available, women often cannot afford mobile phones or data plans. For those in the lowest income brackets, a smartphone can consume up to 51 percent of their monthly earnings, an impossible cost for women who frequently work in informal, unpaid, or low-productivity jobs. Educational gaps reinforce these disparities. In low-income countries, adult literacy rates for women hover around 53 percent, compared to 68.7 percent for men, which hinders their ability to acquire even basic digital skills. ITU data show that in countries like Sierra Leone, less than 2 percent of women can perform simple digital tasks like moving a file or folder.

Social Norms, Online Violence, and the Fear Factor

Even when women have access to technology, restrictive gender norms often determine whether they can actually use it. In places like Pakistan and Bangladesh, studies by GSMA and Girl Effect have found that male relatives frequently act as gatekeepers, either limiting or outright forbidding women’s use of mobile phones. In many communities, women’s digital engagement is viewed with suspicion, associated with moral decline or family dishonor. These societal perceptions fuel fear, isolation, and self-censorship. Safety concerns compound the problem. Online gender-based violence, including harassment, cyberstalking, doxing, and non-consensual sharing of images, is widespread and underreported. Research by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights found that 11 percent of women across 28 European countries have experienced some form of cyber harassment. In LMICs, the situation is likely worse, though data is scarce. A Web Foundation study showed that 59 percent of young women who faced online abuse reported negative impacts on their mental health, confidence, and willingness to remain online.

Innovative Approaches That Are Making a Difference

Despite these daunting challenges, the report highlights a range of programs that are beginning to close the digital gender gap through inclusive and gender-responsive design. One notable example is the Maisha Ni Digital campaign in Kenya, a partnership between Safaricom and Google. The initiative offered an affordable 4G smartphone, the Neon Ray, for under $40 and tailored marketing efforts toward women. The results were striking: women made up 54 percent of buyers, and 95 percent reported increased internet use. Similarly, Mexico’s Prospera Digital program used health-related messaging to encourage women to learn digital skills. In Bangladesh and India, the Internet Saathi and iSocial Kallyani programs trained women to become local digital mentors, empowering others in their communities while earning income themselves. Training programs that incorporate flexible schedules, women-only classes, local languages, and culturally relevant content have proven especially effective. A digital platform called Arifu in Kenya found that women engaged with learning modules for longer durations than men and revisited content more frequently, indicating higher engagement when the material is well-designed.

Building a Framework for the Future

Drawing from over 100 global programs, the report proposes a comprehensive design framework for women’s digital literacy initiatives. It categorizes effective program components into four areas: delivery channels (print, broadcast, digital), instructional approaches (classroom-based, group learning, peer support), learning models (bite-sized lessons, gamification, experiential learning), and wraparound features (mentoring, transportation, childcare, community engagement). It also outlines sector-specific applications, including digital financial literacy for entrepreneurship and social protection. Yet despite these promising developments, the report underscores a significant limitation very few programs are backed by rigorous evaluation. Only a handful have been studied using randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental methods. Evidence is scattered, often unpublished, and rarely shared transparently. The report calls for a major shift in how digital literacy interventions are researched and evaluated. Practitioners are urged to publish results, successful or not, to help build a shared global knowledge base.

Ultimately, the report delivers a clear message: access to digital tools alone is not enough. True inclusion requires a holistic, context-sensitive approach that addresses not just connectivity and affordability, but also cultural norms, gender-based violence, confidence, and education. Women’s digital literacy is not a niche issue; it is a foundational requirement for gender equality, inclusive economic growth, and resilient communities. As the digital economy expands, so too must the resolve to ensure that women are not merely connected but truly empowered to participate, lead, and thrive.