Opinion: How to tackle least developed countries' gender gaps in tech use and data, Deanna Ramsay for Global Views/Devex

Yes, the internet now allows — some of — us to digitally crisscross the globe. But information about the ways we use digital tools, and about who is benefitting from them and who is not, remains elusive for many parts of the world and for many segments of the population, even with all of our innovations. Take the examples above of women who hail from what the United Nations identifies as least developed countries, or LDCs, because of the structural impediments to development and low incomes. These women’s entrepreneurial efforts are notable, but knowing of one, two, or three standouts isn’t enough. We need more data. And we need to use it, knowing that women with the right knowledge and tools create opportunities — and this results in greater well-being and economic advancement. How many female business owners are using social media in Uganda, where active social media users are 5.6% of the population? How many women have smartphones in Comoros, where 4.9% of mobile connections have broadband? How many have access to the internet in the Solomon Islands, where internet penetration is at 22%? Answers to such questions and others like it about women, commerce, and technology in the world’s poorest countries are limited. Because of this, economic development support specific to LDCs may not be best directed to ensure equity, and it’s difficult to monitor progress. And there is a risk that women in LDCs — nations that are, by definition, lagging behind — are left even further behind amid the current tech revolution.