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The
ICT process and the gender component
Dr. N. Dlodlo
October 21, 2004
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Introduction
The challenges posed by the emergence of Information and Communications
Technologies (ICT) and the major global flows in knowledge and information
were the foundation of the Zimbabwean Government’s need for not
only the formulation of an ICT national policy, but also an acknowledgement
by Government of new technologies. The Zimbabwe ICT vision in the
making is a vision for accelerating the pace at which the country
can use knowledge and ICTs in its quest for development [1]
According
to the Honourable Minister of State for Science and Technology Development,
Dr. O. Muchena, the Government’ Vision on ICT is, "The establishment,
Development and Implementation of a Comprehensive, Forward Looking
and Sustainable Policy Framework and e-strategies adapted to the
specific requirements of the different communities in our society".
[2]
A
policy is a "deliberate course of action carefully selected
to meet clearly defined objectives within a specific time frame.
The quest for formulating an ICT national policy and strategy represents
a policy thrust by Zimbabwe to harness the power and promise of
new technology in order to increase economic performance, equitable
income distribution and efficiency of delivery of services.
The
National ICT strategy should ideally have broad objectives including
[1]:
- Promoting
and supporting the orderly and sustainable development of ICTs
- Establishing
national structures to ensure proper implementation of ICT policies
including guidelines for ICT development.
- Embarking
on an extensive educational and training programme to provide
adequate supply of qualified ICT personnel and knowledge workers.
- Establishing
institutional mechanisms and procedures for determining sectoral
application priorities; and ensuring provision and maintenance
of infrastructural facilities necessary for ICT development such
as reliable supply of electricity and telecommunications
With
respect to gender issues, the overall aim of an ICT policy is to
arrive at one that will encourage girls and women to use and develop
ICT and ensuring equitable access to ICTs and the benefits they
can offer
According
to [3], "Fewer women than men in Africa, as elsewhere, specialize
in the Sciences and Engineering. Moreover if women seem to be "fearful"
of technology or reluctant to experiment with new technologies,
then it is usually interpreted as a "female" problem"
rather than as a reflection of the inappropriate design of the technologies,
or the aura of male dominance surrounding their use, or both. Thus
if women have not been active participants in the development and
use of new technologies, then it is assumed this has been as a result
of (1) their own choices or (2) the fact that they have been slow
to recognize the importance of a particular technology.
To
a large extent, this traditional pattern of male and female attitudes
towards technologies is replicating itself in the development of
the new ICTs. Until the ICT policy arena is itself engendered, it
will be difficult to improve access for women and girls to the revolutionary
tools of information and communication technology. [3]
Gender
issues in ICT policy fall into two categories:
- Gender in
aspects of access and use of ICTs
- Gender into
topics that arise in the ICT policy
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