Mainstreaming gender in digital policies

Registration Opened, 16 Dec 2025 - 22 Jan 2026

Event dates

29 Jan 2026 - 30 Jan 2026

Location

Africa, South Africa

Training topics

Digital inclusion

Training type

Face to Face

Languages

English

Course level

Introductory

Duration

16 hours

Event email contact

[email protected]

Description

The digital landscape offers significant opportunities for socio-economic development, but gender disparities continue to limit equitable access and participation. Women and gender-diverse groups face obstacles in digital access, skill development, and online safety, limiting their engagement and representation in the digital economy. As South Africa advances its digital transformation agenda, it is crucial that policies are inclusive and responsive to gender-specific challenges and opportunities. 

The workshop will focus on digital technology, access to digital skills, access to infrastructure and digital services, that contribute to meaningful participation int the digital society and economy. 

Learning objectives

The aim of the workshop is to equip policymakers with knowledge, tools, and strategies to integrate gender considerations into digital policies, advancing inclusive development. 

Furthermore, to strengthening capacity of legislators on how to mainstream gender in digital policies, with a focus on the intersection of ICT and digital technology, digital skills, and infrastructure and digital services, particularly on policies that impact the creation and expansion of women and gender-diverse gender groups employment in the digital sector and beyond. 

Upon completion of this course, participants will have:  

• Increased awareness and understanding of gendered barriers and opportunities in digital inclusion.
• Enhanced capacity among legislators to formulate and implement gender-responsive digital policies.
• Sharing of insights drawn from ITU’s Handbook on mainstreaming gender in digital policies (and from other tools and -limited- existing handbooks) on successful practices in place in different countries and discuss similar practices that can potentially be implemented in South Africa. 
• Provide frameworks, tools, and best practices for mainstreaming gender in digital policies.
• Enhanced socio-economic opportunities for women and gender-diverse groups in the digital economy. 

Assessment and grading

Group Exercise 1: 25 

Group Exercise 2: 25 

Group Presentation 1: 25 

Group Presentation 2: 25  

Total: 100% 

Training details and instructional approach

Day 1 ( 29 January)

Morning 

• Introduction 

• Digital gender divide 

• The case for gender mainstreaming in digital policies 

• Gaps in access and use and why this is important 

• Gender responsive policy making process 

• Alignment with digital policies 

• Government institutions in charge of ICT and gender

• Institutionalized coordination on digital policies and gender 

Afternoon

• Group exercises (tbc):
• Problem Definition - Constructing the Problem
• Problem Definition - Deconstructing the Problem
• Selecting the Policy Option
• Group discussion
• Presentation of group conclusions
• Identification of main take aways

Day 2 (January 30) 

Morning 

• Gender inclusion in digital policies, strategies and regulations (findings of the ITU-EIF project)
• Checklist for mainstreaming gender in digital policies
• Measuring progress: Tools and handbooks on mainstreaming gender in digital policies – What is available and How this is useful for policymakers

Afternoon

• Group exercises (tbc):
• Stakeholder mapping
• Proposal of a new gender mainstreaming practice
• Identification of lessons learned from existing practices
• Group discussion
• Presentation of group conclusions
• Identification of actions to be taken as a result of the workshop
• Conclusion of the workshop

Registration information

Document on registration information (English)

Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.