Horn of Africa: Using digital technologies to advance women, peace and security agenda.

This year's global theme for the UN Observance of International Women's Day 2023, "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality," is timely.

As new technologies are being embraced, gender inclusion is critical to allow women to access emerging technologies that offer platforms through which they can voice their concerns, identify their specific needs and promote access to basic services.

The Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS) recognizes the increasing role of digital technologies in fulfilling women's and girl's rights, as digital technology impacts both women's safety and empowerment.

Not enough attention has been given to how women use technological tools to support peacebuilding efforts, for instance to amplify their communication and advocacy efforts, to promote meaningful engagement, and to gain access to decisionmakers.

Women-led organizations have used digital technologies to advance women's empowerment, health, and safety. Online platforms provide women access to educational services, and women use social media to disseminate information on local political developments.

Women are drivers of peace: increasing ways for them to engage through digital participation must be prioritized.

Ms. Tetteh

Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa

This shows a need for the international community to institutionalize women's digital inclusion. The 2018 Gender Responsive UN Peacekeeping Operations Policy has sought to mainstream gender in UN operations.

In 2018, the UN Secretary-General launched his Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative, which creates policy space for ensuring women's meaningful participation in peace processes.

However, there is still a need to develop more systematic strategies that combine gender mainstreaming and digital inclusion into peacebuilding efforts.

Digital inclusion allows communities to access digital resources and technologies

The economic effects of digital technologies have reached over 50% of the developing world's population in the last few decades.

However, many women, especially those from poor communities, indigenous and ethnic minorities, remain disconnected from an increasingly interconnected world.

As this widening digital gender gap amplifies socio-economic inequalities, bridging the digital divide provides unparalleled opportunities for development.

Investing in women's economic empowerment drives economic growth and poverty reduction. In Africa, women's...