DG-9 commits to building a resilient, reliable and sustainable infrastructure, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. More than half of the world’s population now live in urban areas, increasingly in highly-dense cities. Therefore, mass transport and renewable energy are becoming ever more important, as are the growth of new industries and information and communication technologies.
It probably comes as no surprise, when PLAN International states: „Girls and women often have less access to technology and the internet compared to boys and men.“ Although this so called Gender Digital Divide can be found in all countries, it is definitely largest in the world’s least developed countries at 32.9 %: „Particularly in developing countries, girls and women struggle to afford technology and internet access. In addition, stereotypes around technology being ‘for boys’ and fear of being discriminated against stop girls from using digital tools. Without equal access to technology and the internet, girls and women are not able to equally participate in our ever more digital societies. (..) Moreover, if girls and women are not involved in creating digital tools and online content, they may exacerbate existing inequalities.“
Bridging this Gender Digital Divide by creating gender equality and empowering women is therefore mandatory to break this cycle and ensure the achievement of SDG-9. Equal access to information and knowledge is a prerequisite for this goal.