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Empowering Women in Africa: How AXIAN Telecom Is Bridging the Gender Digital Gap

Aissatou Koffi, a 32-year-old Togolese mother of three, lives in the suburbs of Lomé in West Africa. She runs a market stall to sell homemade hair products.

For some time, Aissatou has believed that her business could grow if she could reach more women in other neighborhoods of Lomé. After noticing a merchant using social media to sell motor parts online, she thought the same strategy could work for her.

Dagan Connectée, launched by Togocom, a subsidiary of AXIAN Telecom, in collaboration with the local NGO TIDD, is a program that aims to train 100 women entrepreneurs each year by focusing on the development of essential digital skills that allow participants to successfully integrate digital solutions into their business activities.

After hearing about the Dagan Connectée Program on the radio, Aissatou attended an introductory meeting and quickly realized it was designed for micro-entrepreneurs like herself- women seeking to learn digital skills to expand their businesses. She enrolled and was selected to join the first cohost. Along with 20 other women, she completed a 60-hour training program over six weeks, acquiring skills in online content creation, social media promotion, and online marketing campaigns. As a result, she not only learned how to promote and sell her products online, but she also saw her business grow thanks to her new digital skills.

Digital transformation offers new opportunities for empowering women and girls. However, cultural and social norms, high cost, and a lack of digital literacy – among other barriers - pose obstacles to their success in the digital economy and society.

To achieve gender equality, we must create incentives and tailored services that empower young girls and women to access technology and acquire the skills needed to use digital technologies effectively. The challenge has gained prominence as global organizations and businesses acknowledge that without it, young women and girls cannot equally participate in or contribute to this current digital era.

EQUALS, a global network of over 100 organisations dedicated to improving gender equality in technology, aims to provide equal technology access, promote digital skills growth, and create career opportunities. As an official member of the EQUALS Global Partnership, AXIAN Telecom is committed to reducing the gender digital gap through initiatives that empower women and girls in Africa.

By joining the global initiative, AXIAN Telecom is expanding its efforts to support women and girls in Africa’s digital landscape, collaborating with other members to share insights and implement strategies for advancing gender inclusion in tech.

Additionally, AXIAN Telecom has joined the “Skills Coalition”, one of the four coalitions within EQUALS, focused on improving digital skills for women and reducing the gender digital usage gap. By participating in the Skills Coalition, AXIAN Telecom is engaging in roundtable discussions and collaborative efforts to improve these initiatives. Benefitting from the expertise and experiences of coalition members, AXIAN is enriching its ability to support women and girls in Africa’s digital landscape while implementing more effective strategies and driving innovative ideas to promote gender inclusion in the tech industry.

As AXIAN Telecom expands its influence, its membership in the EQUALS Global Partnership marks a significant step towards achieving gender equality in tech, fostering a future where technology empowers women and girls to reach their full potential in the digital age.

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