Engendering ICT in Afghanistan

An oasis in the middle of the desert

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ICT in Afghanistan at-a-glanceAfghanistan South

AsiaLow inc

Telephone mainlines/1000 people

1 31 26

Tel mainlines in largest city/1000 people

8 127 130

Daily newspapers 5 60 40Television sets/1000 people

14 81 91

Personal computers/1000 people

Less than 1 5.3 5.9

Internet users (thousands)

Less than 2 7,973 15,332

So what does Afghanistan have?Strong commitment from GoAIncreasingly sharp demand from all sectors and user groups A robust and vibrant private sector to feed ICT growthA burgeoning population of youth to fill ICT labor needs

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Donated laptops will benefitShiberghan youth groups Andkhoi HMIS for hospitalMazar ACBAR Internet Cafe

…..but we need more!Funding for mobile phones and more internet connectivity that is easily accessible to women across the country.Infodev can provide us with these resources with YOUR help to mobilize the funds.

What are benefits for Afghan women of investing in ICT?

Voice in virtual community to join international women’s activistsEconomic opportunities to market local products via e-commerceDistance learning for those that missed out on education during the Taliban years.

What’s so special about ICT for Afghan women?

Empowerment: theanonymity that theinternet providesmakes it the idealcommunicationmedium for womenwho are otherwiseprohibited from publicdiscourse.

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