Engendering ICT in Afghanistan An oasis in the middle of the desert

2 ICT in Afghanistan at-a-glance AfghanistanSouth AsiaLow inc Telephone mainlines/1000 people Tel mainlines in largest city/1000 people Daily newspapers56040 Television sets/1000 people Personal computers/1000 people Less than Internet users (thousands)Less than 27,97315,332

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

4 Donated laptops will benefit Shiberghan youth groups Andkhoi HMIS for hospital Mazar 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 activists Economic opportunities to market local products via e-commerce Distance learning for those that missed out on education during the Taliban years.

What’s so special about ICT for Afghan women? Empowerment: the anonymity that the internet provides makes it the ideal communication medium for women who are otherwise prohibited from public discourse.

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