Technology as a Catalyst for Women’s Empowerment

Digital access is opening new pathways for women to earn, save, invest and participate in Kenya’s growing digital economy.

Technology is changing how people live, work and do business. For women, it is also creating new ways to access opportunities that were once difficult to reach.

As the world marks International Women’s Day, the conversation around technology must go beyond innovation. It must also ask whether women and girls have an equal opportunity to shape and benefit from the digital future.

Today, technology influences how people learn, earn, build businesses and participate in society. However, access to technology alone does not guarantee empowerment.

For many women, particularly those working in the informal sector, significant barriers remain.

According to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report, women in low- and middle-income countries are about 14% less likely than men to use mobile internet. This represents more than 234 million fewer women online globally.

Closing the Financial Access Gap

Traditional financial systems have often relied on formal employment, collateral, paperwork and physical banking infrastructure.

That model can leave many women behind.

Market traders, farmers, home-based entrepreneurs and caregivers often operate outside formal systems. Yet their economic contribution keeps households, businesses and communities moving.

Digital technology is helping to change this reality.

Women are increasingly using digital financial services to manage money, run businesses and access opportunities.

More than 70% of customers on Lipa Mdogo Mdogo are women. The service has helped more women access affordable devices and participate in the digital economy.

Women are also active users of M-PESA financial services.

They account for about 47% of Fuliza customers and 53% of Pochi la Biashara customers. The figures point to the growing role of women in entrepreneurship and mobile-based commerce.

Overall, women account for 49.82% of M-PESA customers in Kenya.

Turning Connectivity Into Economic Power

Connectivity is only the starting point.

The real value of technology comes when it solves problems people face every day.

For a woman running a small business, receiving a payment instantly can mean completing a sale without worrying about change.

For a chama, digital tools can make contributions easier to track and manage.

A small business owner can also use digital services to save regularly, access working capital and manage difficult months.

These may seem like simple conveniences. However, they can give women greater control over their finances and businesses.

That is where technology can become a powerful tool for economic inclusion.

Technology as a Catalyst for Women’s Empowerment

Opening New Doors to Investment

The digital economy is also creating opportunities beyond everyday transactions.

Platforms such as Ziidi Trader are opening investment opportunities to more Kenyans, including women who may previously have found wealth-building tools difficult to access.

This shift matters because financial empowerment is not only about meeting today’s needs.

It is also about giving people the ability to save, invest and build for the future.

As more women gain access to these tools, technology can help expand their participation in wealth creation and the wider economy.

Building an Inclusive Digital Future

Technology is evolving at remarkable speed. The commitment to inclusion must evolve with it.

That means creating systems that consider the realities of women and other underserved groups from the beginning.

It also means ensuring that diversity is reflected in leadership, ownership, innovation and decision-making.

Innovation is stronger when different experiences shape the solutions being created.

The call for “Rights, Justice, Action For ALL Women and Girls” should therefore extend beyond International Women’s Day.

It should influence how digital systems are designed, how capital is allocated and how innovation ecosystems are built.

Rights should translate into equitable access.

Justice should help dismantle structural barriers.

Action should turn good intentions into sustained investment and opportunity.

Technology That Works for Everyone

When women can access digital services, manage their finances, grow businesses and invest in their futures, technology becomes more than a driver of efficiency.

It becomes a pathway to greater economic participation.

The opportunity now is to ensure that the digital transformation does not leave women behind.

When women have the tools to shape the digital future, the benefits extend beyond individuals. Families, businesses and communities can become stronger.

Ultimately, technology can become a catalyst for inclusive growth, shared prosperity and lasting transformation across Africa.

This article was first written by the Group CEO of Safaricom PLC.