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Closing gaps between men and women in access and use of digital technologies is critical for inclusive development. Digital technologies can facilitate access to education, information, and expand access to economic opportunities, while supporting people in overcoming mobility constraints. They can create new jobs, facilitate access to digital financial services and enable the growth of digital businesses. Access to and use of digital technologies also helps improve public service delivery, increases access to information, and fosters greater citizen engagement. In 2020 alone, the Alliance for Affordable Internet estimated that, in 32 low- and middle-income countries analyzed, the gender gap in internet use resulted in losses of $126 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Gender equality is an urgent imperative. Crises, conflict, and global trends such as climate change, natural resource scarcity, and technological transitions exacerbate inequalities.

In many societies, reversal

The study examines the determinants of women’s labor market participation in Africa using Bayesian Model Averaging to address model uncertainty in cross-country regressions. Our results suggest a U-shaped relationship between income per capita and female labor force participation, which implies that women’s participation increases with increased economic development.

The findings also indicate that factors such as economic complexity, religious fractionalization,freedom of mobility, access to assets, adolescent fertility rate, mental and physical health, human capital, flexibility in labor market regulations, and employment in the services sector are associated with increased female labor force participation.

However, factors such as social networks,globalization, ethnic and language fractionalization, minimum wage policies, workplace discrimination,and gender disparities in formal employment hinder participation.
This paper shows mutually consistent evidence to support prior studies on female labor force participation and that correcting systemic and structural barriers represents a “gender-smart” way to promote gender parity in the labor market.

Young Women in Africa can become important contributors to the continent’s economy, adding $287 billion (a 5% GDP increase) and 23 million jobs. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda,
Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda are expected to have the fastest growth if they follow Namibia’s 1 example of accelerating young women’s contribution to GDP.

Digitalization and technological advancements are changing the world of work and the types of skills needed for employment. Across Africa, digital skills are becoming increasingly important, with an estimated 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) alone needing digital skills by the end of the decade.

Digitalization and technological advancements are changing the world of work and the types of skills needed for employment. Across Africa, digital skills are becoming increasingly important, with an estimated 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) alone needing digital skills by the end of the decade.