The benefits to increasing mobile phone ownership for resource-poor women, which include greater security and higher social and economic empowerment, are clear (and this video can expand further on these advantages). However, despite these benefits, several barriers stand in the way of equitable ownership and use of mobile phones. Today, I’m honing in barriers associated with limited literacy, of the written and technical kind.

The UN defines an illiterate person as someone who cannot, with understanding, both read and write a short, simple statement on his or her everyday life. With regards to the GSMA mWomen Design Challenge, when we talk of a lack of basic, written or reading literacy, this is what we mean. It’s important to note that many of those classed as illiterate can often recognise numbers and basic words.

When we discuss technical literacy, we’re concentrating on a user’s capacity to navigate a tool, system or process. Specifically in the context of the Design Challenge, we refer to the ability to use information and communication devices such as mobile phones effectively and to their full potential. Technical literacy is an issue in any part of the world, for users with any level of basic literacy. Imagine the first time you picked up a smartphone. Did you need to consult a user guide or ask a friend to point you to key features or apps? Did you help your parents to learn how to use the internet or Facebook for the first time?

So users’ basic and technical literacy level will affect how they use and adopt smartphones. As discussed in an earlier blog post, it is possible for illiterate people to use mobile phones, but these devices have been designed with the needs of earlier adopters in mind. These users tend to be higher-income, technically savvy poplations, usually urban and male. Without experience or the helping hand of a knowledgeable family or community member, illiterate or novice populations risk missing out on the full range of benefits.

Given lower rates of access to education and technology arising from broad-based gender discrimination, women and girls often are at most risk of falling behind. A stark illustration: 22% of resource-poor women who did not want a mobile phone said it was because they ‘wouldn’t know how to use it’.

Many resource-poor women also lack understanding of the full potential of mobile devices and services. They are often not aware of features beyond voice and SMS. For example, just 2% of resource-poor women report having used the mobile internet.

While serious, these barriers can be addressed, especially if they are considered during the design of the mobile phone and services themselves. Digital design agency Huge suggested a few examples at the Design Challenge launch at the Social Good Summit in New York City on 23 September. For example, they suggested the use of culturally agnostic iconography, graphical representation of information instead of text and stripping the launcher interface down to the bare essentials. We’re curious to learn additional ideas from other experts in the digital design and product developer communities, particularly from those living in developing markets where the technical literacy gaps are most extreme.

Submissions close on 14 December 2012, so while you’re brainstorming your entry ideas, check out more considerations about written and technical literacy among resource poor women here and do get in touch with any questions on the comment board here.