Digital Safety Essential for Women’s Participation in Africa’s Growing Digital Economy, AfDB Says
Expanding gender-disaggregated data systems and strengthening national statistical capacity were identified as critical steps to understanding and addressing the scale of the problem.
African Development Bank officials have called for urgent and coordinated action to end digital gender-based violence as Africa’s digital economy continues to expand. Writing during the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10, Jemimah Njuki, Director for Women, Gender and Civil Society at the African Development Bank, and senior programme manager Ndey Oley Cole highlighted the growing scale of online abuse faced by women and girls across the continent. They noted that more than a quarter of women in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced online violence, while 34 percent of young people aged 18 to 24 face online bullying.
The authors stressed that digital gender-based violence is a major barrier to women’s participation in the digital economy and to inclusive growth. As African countries invest heavily in digital infrastructure, skills, and innovation, they argued that safety, dignity, and inclusion must be treated as core pillars of digital transformation, not afterthoughts.
They outlined five priority actions to address the challenge. These include enacting and enforcing gender-responsive cyber laws that clearly criminalize online abuse, embedding digital safety into national development and ICT strategies, and holding technology platforms accountable for content moderation and user protection. The authors also emphasized the importance of investing in survivor-led innovation, noting that African women are already developing tools and solutions to promote online safety when given the right support.
In addition, the article highlighted the need for better data to inform policy. The lack of standardized, continent-wide data on digital gender-based violence makes it difficult to design effective responses. Expanding gender-disaggregated data systems and strengthening national statistical capacity were identified as critical steps to understanding and addressing the scale of the problem.
The authors concluded with a call to action for governments, technology companies, development partners, and citizens to work together to create safer digital spaces. They argued that ending digital gender-based violence is not only a moral responsibility, but also an economic and social necessity if Africa is to fully unlock its digital potential and ensure that women and girls can participate safely and confidently online.
