The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has launched a program to train more than 1,000 women entrepreneurs in four African countries by 2029.
The initiative combines digital literacy and financial management training with capacity building for more than 200 policymakers to promote gender-responsive digital policies.
The program comes as Africa continues to record the world’s widest gender digital gap, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has launched a program to train more than 1,000 African women entrepreneurs as the continent seeks to narrow persistent gender gaps in digital skills and online market participation. The ECA announced the initiative in an official statement published on June 29. The program will operate in four countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Namibia and the Republic of the Congo. The ECA’s Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Development (TICID) division leads the initiative.
The program combines two complementary components. It will provide beneficiaries with training in digital literacy and financial management. In addition, the initiative will train more than 200 public policymakers to design inclusive and gender-responsive regulatory frameworks, the ECA said.
The program also includes eight national workshops, a regional training program, an online learning module and study visits. The project began with a virtual meeting of a multi-stakeholder working group in May. The group recommended conducting an in-depth assessment in each participating country before launching large-scale training activities.
The diagnostic phase will last six months, according to the ECA. The institution said it designed this approach to ensure that field data guides future actions. The project will continue through 2029 under a multi-year implementation schedule.
The initiative targets women entrepreneurs who face limited access to digital markets. It also addresses barriers to financing and online business management tools. Furthermore, the program seeks to improve regulatory environments that the ECA considers insufficiently adapted to women entrepreneurs. The training provided to policymakers aims to translate those findings into concrete public policies.
ITU reports persistent digital gender gap
The gap between male and female internet use remains significant across Africa. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Africa’s digital gender parity score improved from 0.70 in 2019 to 0.78 in 2025. A score of 1 indicates full parity between men and women. However, the ITU said in its Facts and Figures 2025 report that Africa remains the world’s least digitally gender-equal region.
The ITU also reported that internet usage reached 36% in Africa in 2025, less than half the global average of 74%. Globally, 77% of men used the internet in 2025, compared with 71% of women.
Internet Usage Rates in 2025
The gender gap also extends to mobile phone ownership, which remains the primary means of accessing the internet across much of Africa. The ITU reported that mobile phone ownership parity in Sub-Saharan Africa reached only 0.80 in 2024, one of the lowest levels worldwide.
The ECA selected four countries that reflect different levels of digital development. Ethiopia and Burkina Faso continue to record relatively low internet penetration, while Namibia has achieved more advanced connectivity. The institution expects this diversity to help it test approaches that fit different national contexts.
Part of broader regional initiatives
The ECA’s program complements a broader set of regional initiatives that promote digital gender equality across Africa. Since 2024, the ITU has coordinated a network of women ministers responsible for information and communication technologies. The organization also supports a cybersecurity mentoring program for African and Arab women.
These initiatives share the view that digital equality depends not only on access to devices but also on skills development, supportive regulation and women’s participation in decision-making. The ECA said its country-specific implementation model distinguishes its program from other regional initiatives.
The institution plans to complete the first round of country assessments by the end of 2026. It will use the findings to shape the content of the eight national workshops. The ECA has not yet announced a start date for the training sessions.
This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum