Connected Women Commitment Initiative
Mobile operators are working to reduce the gender gap in mobile internet and mobile money services.
In an increasingly connected world, women are being left behind. Across low- and middle-income countries women are 8% less likely than men to own a mobile phone, 13% less like to own a smartphone, 15% less likely to use mobile internet, and 28% less likely to use mobile money. These significant gender gaps are preventing women from reaping the full benefits of mobile technology.
Closing the mobile gender gap is critically important and can deliver significant socio-economic benefits to underserved women, their communities and the economy. We estimate that closing the gender gap in low- and middle-income countries between 2023 and 2030 represents a $230bn revenue opportunity for the mobile industry. When women thrive, societies, businesses and economies thrive.
Mobile operators are driving an effort, with support from the Connected Women team, to reduce the gender gap in mobile internet and mobile money services by making formal Commitments to increase the proportion of women in their mobile internet and/or mobile money service customer base. More than 50 mobile operators have made commitments, collectively reaching over 70 million additional women with these services since 2016.
Connected Women Commitment Partners
2024 and beyond
So far 22 mobile operators across Africa and Asia have made or renewed their commitment beyond 2024 to reduce the gender gap in their customer base of their mobile internet and/or mobile money services:
2016 – 2023
The following organisations have previously made formal Commitments to increase the proportion of women in their mobile internet and/or mobile money customer base: