African Women’s Digital Flight

The Bright Future of the Gig Economy

Abstract

Women have been underprivileged in terms of economic security for years. While the 20th Century saw their lives getting better through the informal sector employment, the 21st Century has brought in a new outlook with the coming of the digital age. This paper focuses on how women’s livelihoods in Africa are changing in the era of rapidly evolving information and technology space with specific focus on the Kenyan scenario. The Gig Economy has grown tremendously over the years and unlocked new opportunities for women to access freelance work on digital platforms from the comfort of their homes. The paper uses desktop review to analyse the status of the digital economy and women’s empowerment in Africa. It highlights existing challenges and reflects future prospects to promote women’s economic empowerment in this emerging sector by addressing gender gaps in access to suitable technology and infrastructure, unpaid care work, social protection, gender earning gap, education and skills development and legal protection. It proposes key recommendations, including strengthening labour laws and regulations, equal employment opportunities, need for more investment in new technological innovations, collaboration with training institutions to equip gig workers with soft skills such as communication and marketing and addressing negative gender norms and stereotypes on access and use of technology.