The digital divide rears its ugly head amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With much of society grinding to a halt, people look to Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to adapt to the evolving uncertainty and operate with minimal disruption.
All of a sudden, companies are being forced to embrace remote working arrangements facilitated by various productivity and videoconferencing tools. School closures have led to moving classes online. Quarantine restrictions have intensified the use of digital technology to mediate effective communication among family members and friends.
The world is grappling with Agenda 2030 by pursuing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 169 targets, and 230 indicators. Agenda 2030 is geared towards improving the world and the lives of its inhabitants. In the wake of the COVID 19 environment, MK-Africa in partnership with UNDP held a 4-week webinar series for the youth on Digital inclusivity for the realization of SDG 10.
SDG 10 calls for reducing inequalities in income as well as those based on age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or another status within a country. The Goal also addresses inequalities among countries, including those related to representation, migration, and development assistance.
The content was delivered through a series of interactive online workshops for four weeks and the content shared for access through an Online Learning Platform on learning.mylittlebigthing.com offered by a subsidiary of MK-Africa – #MyLittleBigThing.
The webinars were held every Thursday from 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm EAT in the month of October 2020 with an aim to address digital inclusion and its impact on reducing inequalities.
The topics covered were; Recognizing Exclusion, Opportunities for youth within the digital economy, the role of stakeholders in digital Inclusion, and Inclusive Design and Innovation. Speakers included:
- Mr. Isaac Kamande – Director of planning, Ministry of mining
- Dr. Florence Wachira – Gender and Inclusion Expert
- Mr. Manasseh Miruka – Design Thinking Specialist
- Ms. Frida Mwangi – Transcriber, Founder: KaziRemote, Founding Board Member: Online Professional Workers Association of Kenya (OPWAK)
- Ms. Josephine Ndambuki – Manager, Economic Development, Partnerships & Resource Mobilization-Konza Technopolis Development Authority
- Ms. Mandisa Mashologu – Deputy Resident Representative- Programmes
- Eng. Daniel Obam – National Communications Secretariat, Ministry of ICT
- Prof. Bitange Ndemo – Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of Nairobi, Senior Lecturer, University of Nairobi
- Mr. Adam Lane – Deputy CEO, Government Affairs, Kenya at Huawei
- Ms. Lucy Macharia – Director of Programs, Embrace Inclusion
- Mr. Martin Waigwa – Principal Solutions Architect, Oracle
Visit the #MyLittleBigThing Facebook page to watch the recordings from the webinars.