Evidence Gap Maps (EGM)

Digital Inclusion EGM

Emerging from a systematic literature review that screened over 1,000 pieces of peer reviewed research, the final EGM included 113 studies across Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. These papers were categorised according to areas along the top of the map, and the circle indicates how many papers have been published on each topic.

The map shows that strong evidence exists on the economic benefits of mobile internet (e.g., mobile money, remittances, income generation) and on cultural and gender norms, especially the role of digital skills and education.

Gaps in the evidence base include:

• Safety and security: Little research has been done to understand the prevalence and implications of scams, cyber-crime and device theft, despite these being primary barriers preventing internet use.
• Entertainment and fun, such as sports and gaming: Despite the fact that this is one of the most important uses of mobile internet across low- and middle-income countries, there is relatively little research focussing on the entertainment value of mobile internet.
• Human rights: The EGM identified no studies taking a human rights lens to mobile internet access. This highlights the relatively emergent framing of internet access in the global south from a privilege, to a tool people expect to access to organise their lives and livelihoods.

Climate EGM

By visualising 116 academic studies at the intersection of mobile internet and climate, policymakers and programme designers can see both where their interventions are building on a strong basis of evidence, and where further research is needed to better understand how to be most effective.

Emerging from a systematic literature review that screened over 1,000 pieces of peer reviewed research, the final EGM included 116 studies across Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. These papers were categorised according to areas along the top of the map, and the circle indicates how many papers have been published on each topic. Some lessons emerging from the EGM include a robust foundation of research in certain areas, such as:

• Strong research exists on climate vulnerability in rural areas, showing the importance of considering connections between rural communities, government services, markets, and ecosystems.
• Climate adaptation is often studied as a local issue, providing a good base to expand understanding of how these local efforts interact with broader systems, including the private sector and policy actors.

Gaps in the evidence base include:

• Despite a stated need to approach climate issues from a lens of complexity, relatively little research has been done to help understand how mobile technology can be genuinely transformative in achieving climate outcomes. This includes limited transdisciplinary research, and consideration for the use of tech in issues like climate finance, or governance.
• While gender equity is a key to achieving a just transition, there is very little research that considers the gendered dimension of mobile internet uptake to achieve climate outcomes.
• Finally, while most of the GSMA’s work around climate takes place in partnership with the private sector, often working with social enterprises and startups through the innovation fund, very little research focusses specifically on both the cause or effect small enterprises can have in climate resilience efforts.