Digital Financial Inclusion for Women in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal 5 is seen as critical in achieving gender equality. Women and girls are still marginalised and disadvantaged in Africa, and proportionally few are financially and socially independent. Hence, there is a concern about the gender gap in digital financial inclusion on the continent. The paper draws on existing literature to examine the extent to which digital financial inclusion facilitates women’s economic empowerment in four African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and Lesotho. It further discusses the challenges women face in taking part in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Despite all the policies implemented by African states and the growing participation of these nations in 4IR, women still lag behind in digital financial inclusion. The paper concludes that enforcing gender equity in the digital environment is necessary to pave the way for the future. Technology is human-invented and follows the instructions that we dictate. Hence, we could use it to improve gender equality in the 4IR environment and move closer to achieving sustainable development.