Gender equality is central to achieving sustainable development as is the full participation of girls and women in the technology revolution through closing the current digital gap, says the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Acting Executive Secretary, Antonio Pedro.

In a video address at the start of a week long coding camp for girls and women which opened in Chimoio, Mozambique, Mr. Pedro, stressed the importance of gender equality as a fundamental human right with a significant impact on socio-economic development.

Mr. Pedro highlighted to the girls that:

“Your participation is an opportunity to acquire essential skills in the field of ICT and find inspiration in the stories of remarkable women STEM leaders in Mozambique and throughout Africa.”

Furthermore, he noted the gender gap in internet access in Mozambique, where men are 40% more likely to have internet access due to low overall penetration at 17.4%. Addressing these divides necessitates efforts to close connectivity gaps, tackle affordability issues, bridge gender and urban-rural digital divides, and ensure internet access for all students and schools. Girls and women many times have no or – access to information communication technology (ICTs) from mobile phones and the internet as a result of a combination of factors from poor literacy, discrimination to cultural norms.