Advancing Rural Women's Empowerment: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Service of Good Governance, Democratic Practice and Development for Rural Women in Africa

In the context of African women's development, this paper's theme is captured by the following: "Participatory, rights-based governance requires the dynamic interchange of a large number of role-players. The strength and competence of these various actors and the culture and processes which facilitate their relationship is critical to the functioning of bottom up, people-centered democracy." Excerpts from the paper illustrate this strategy.

From the Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to explore how ICTs have been incorporated into the pursuit of rural women's empowerment in Africa, specifically in terms of their access to human rights and good governance.

The paper was developed as a resource for a Dimitra-sponsored workshop organised by Women'sNet(a Dimitra partner based in South Africa) in February 2004....The topic of this workshop: "Advancing rural women's empowerment: ICTs in the service of Good Governance, Democratic Practice and Development for Rural Women in Africa".

The paper was produced through a desk review conducted primarily via online research. The perspectives and stories that are explored in this paper as a result, are 'loud' voices. Voices and stories that have attracted media attention or are more easily retrieved online. It is neither a definitive nor an exhaustive review of current activities in the field.

The focus is instead, in Part One of the paper, an overview of the political, women's empowerment and human rights framework that shape development and good governance goals for African countries. Part Two focuses on how ICTs are being used to achieve these good governance and development imperatives that benefit rural women.

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