DIGITALL: INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR GENDER EQUALITY.

Science, technology and innovation can play a very important role in meeting internationally agreed developmental goals. However, they cannot effectively facilitate equitable and sustainable development unless the aims, concerns, situations and abilities of women as well as men are considered in formulating science, technology and innovation policies. Technology and innovation present us new opportunities that never existed before. Not only do they help progress the economy and people’s livelihood they also serve as a powerful tool to increase awareness creating space for social movements and making everyone’s voice heard. It is undeniable that technology and innovation have contributed to the democratization of access to information and opportunity. But it is true only to a certain extent. If we look closer women and girls across continents have inadequate and limited access to technology. The exclusion of women from science has been historically witnessed by the world for a long time and their participation is still not in parity of expectation. The negative attitude that is held against women pertaining to science and technology remains active due to the influence of socio-psychological parameters. The barriers to women’s access to technology and innovation lies in the structural issues, poverty, gender discrimination and digital illiteracy. The lack of such access translates to a lack of information, updates, opportunities and the skills necessary to adapt to the changing circumstances. Proper monitoring, proper informing and creating necessary work conditions in the field of science and technology can help reduce gender inequality. As the pandemic led to a surge in the use of digital technologies in education, it also revealed staggering gender gaps in access to and use of digital technology all around the world. Indeed, gender-based exclusion is present throughout the technological world. However, the pandemic showed that learning can occur anywhere and anytime. Innovative solutions are at finger tips and we have an opportunity now to leverage and grasp global experiences to deliver quality learning for gift.