Research

USAID Digital Literacy Primer: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USAID_Digital_Literacy_Primer.pdf

• Definitions, a framework, types of DL programming, and why it matters for USAID

• How to embed DL into USAID’s program cycle (country and regional strategic planning, activity (project) design, and MEL/CLA

• Trends by sector, including agriculture and food security:

  • Consider approaches that increase DL among both users with and without devices

  • Recognize the role of women in ag communities

  • Build DL through existing community structures like producer groups and coops

  • Consider DL activities for intermediaries like extension agents or local leaders

  • Users will primarily need support with information& data literacy and communication & collaboration, but also prioritize safety, particularly for those collecting farmer data

  • Adjust materials to the local content (format, content) to adjust to women/men, connectivity/accessibility, language, low literacy.numeracy, social and environmental realities (cultural relevance)

• Includes annex with DL frameworks and resources, training guides & toolkits

How can digital literacy be used to leapfrog women’s illiteracy? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag32khMj8qw

https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/08/discussion-paper-the-digital-revolution-implications-for-gender-equality-and-womens-rights#:~:text=Publications-,The%20digital%20revolution%3A%20Implications%20for%20gender%20equality%20and,rights%2025%20years%20after%20Beijing&text=The%20digital%20revolution%20brings%20immense,existing%20patterns%20of%20gender%20inequality. - conceptual framework for understanding the mutual shaping relationship between gender & technology. It focuses on three areas in the digital revolution: education, work, and social/welfare services.

Policy recommendations:

• Governments should ensure new technologies are developed within a regulatory framework that prioritizes, protects and promotes women’s human rights

• AI governance frameworks should put gender equality at its core

• Gender analysis in all tech investments

• National gov’t must tackle the gender data gap

• Educational institutions must advance the technical skills and digital literacy of women and girls

• Education and training on women’s rights-compliant technology is needed for those designing, developing and using AI in decision-making

• Policymakers must examine exclusionary practices and language

• Companies, particularly in the tech sector, must incorporate gender mainstreaming in human resources policy

Design

https://digitalconfidence.design/ - Created by IDEO, the info on this site focuses on designing solutions for digital confidence, regardless of gender, geographer, language, device type or education level, hence making technology accessible to anyone. Includes tools to design with confidence in mind.

https://www.defindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Paper_-COL-and-Start.pdf - Paper on binary language to unbind digital literacy for the illiterate focusing on India. Includes definitions & approach.

http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/ip51-global-framework-reference-digital-literacy-skills-2018-en.pdf - UNESCO Digital Literacy Global Framework

Case studies

https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/resources/understanding-peoples-mobile-digital-skills-needs/ - Link to document for download that compares the mobile digital skills needs from India and Ghana, including user journeys based on rural/urban, education and other criteria.

https://www.ideasforindia.in/topics/governance/the-digital-dream-upskilling-india-for-the-future.html - Info on DL in India, including stats on DL levels urban vs rural, across states, etc.

Courses

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/digital-literacy - includes free courses on working with computers and working/collaborating online. Includes lesson guides, transcripts, videos, and closed caption files. Courses in various languages but not the languages of the countries we work in.

Government Departments & Programs

Digital Empowerment Foundation (India) - National Digital Literacy Mission - Website about their work.

http://www.digitalindia.gov.in - India’s flagship program to digitally empower its citizens.

https://dig.watch/updates/ethiopia-government-develops-digital-literacy-plan - Ethiopia US $25B DL plan via the Min. of Science and Higher Education.

Monitoring & evaluation

Article on DL KPIs for sustainable development + a few case studies in India and across Africa: