The Challenges of Digital Inclusion for Women in Madagascar

One-third of the global population was offline in 2024. Many factors play a role when it comes to the digital divide; region, level of income, urban or rural area… Gender is one of these factors, with only 31% of the female population using the Internet in Africa against 43% male in 2024.

In Madagascar, where TSF has a digital inclusion project in a village in the rural region of Itasy, women living in rural areas are particularly affected by this divide: only 29% have access to a mobile phone, 2,6% to the Internet, and 1,4% to a computer.

Only 2,6% of women living in rural areas in Madagascar only have access to the Internet.

Involving women in the discussion

As part of a recent evaluation to ensure that we are meeting the digital needs of communities, TSF met with a focus group of 10 women supported by the Miarinarivo Legal Advice and Support Center. Miarinarivo is a town in the center of Madagascar where we provide affordable access to the Internet and to computers through a cybercafé, as well as clubs to familiarize young people with technology.

It was an opportunity to discuss what their needs are, what is keeping them from accessing digital technology and the Internet, and what solutions might be there to further their digital inclusion. The discussion also involved the president of an organization supporting women in difficult situations.

For these women, not having access to digital technology adds to their exclusion. “I need digital technology to communicate with the rest of the family, to get information”, one of the participants said. “I feel excluded from my family but also from society because I didn’t have digital tools before, I don’t know [how to use them], and that adds to my illiteracy.” Another added, “lack of digital literacy is becoming a blocking factor.”

“I think jealousy and lack of trust within the couple hinder digital access for women.”

Some women have a phone, but don’t know how to use it because they lack digital literacy. They are sometimes worried that they will damage the phone. Others have other types of barriers. One participant said that she is “not allowed to use the phone at home because my husband forbids it. My husband forbids any contact with outsiders using the telephone”. She analyzed: “I think jealousy and lack of trust within the couple hinder digital access for women.”

Lack of access to digital tools and digital spaces is another layer of exclusion for women, and can represent a lack of opportunities.

“I feel excluded from society because I don't know how to use digital tools.”

Supporting women, today and tomorrow

“I want to blossom like everyone else”, one of the participants told us. “I'd like to find a source of income from the digital world. I think using a smartphone can [help me to] achieve my goals. But I don't have this tool, which is becoming a hindrance for me.”

Many women in Miarinarivo come to the center and access the Internet, are able to use email, publicize their activity, find job opportunities, and more. On average, a third of the cybercafé’s users are women and girls.

“I think using a smartphone can [help me to] achieve my goals.”

To better meet women’s digital needs, we asked them what barriers they are facing, but also what their ideas were, what would work for them to overcome these challenges. Some of the solutions could be to raise awareness, provide digital training, and collaborate with other organizations to reach those who need it most.