Digitalisation and Economic Inclusion: Lessons from Rural Women in Umguza District Zimbabwe

This article explores the usefulness of digitalisation in the economic inclusion of rural women in the Umguza district of Zimbabwe. An inductive approach was used, and information was collected through semi-structured interviews with 250 rural women in the 19 wards of Umguza district between the ages of 16 and 65, as well as reviewing secondary data in the form of government, non-governmental, industry reports and scholarly articles. Thematic analysis was used to draw insights on pertinent themes and patterns related to the role of digitalisation in the economic inclusion of rural women. The key findings indicated that the lives of rural women who accessed and used digital technology improved through active participation in economic activities and had greater, faster access to information and skills resulting in higher productivity. The findings highlight the necessity of adopting a gender-sensitive approach in rolling out technology-based initiatives to ensure the sustainable economic inclusion of rural women, ultimately contributing to the broader goals of gender equality and economic development. The study concluded that access to and usage of digital technologies opens up economic prospects for rural women, enriches their financial status, increases their access to education, and nurtures social connectivity. The findings also show that when elements like the provision of cheaper broadband solutions and low-cost smartphones are not attended to, digitalisation has the potential to adversely affect rural women resulting in the widening of the digital gender divide. The recommendations from this study provide insights to government, private sector, and civil society seeking to drive women's economic inclusion through digitalisation and contribute to the body of research on digitalisation and rural women’s economic inclusion.