22nd August 2020, Kathmandu
Women were among the first programmers in the early 20th century and contributed substantially to the computing industry. The first algorithm intended to be executed by the first modern computer, the Analytical Engine created by Charles Babbage was designed by Ada Lovelace. In the 21st century, as technology and practices have become more widespread, the influence and impact of the digital ecosystem on women and their role in the digitalized society has been brought further in the spotlight. Digital driven technology for women signifies a bigger gender gap in terms of economic benefits, skills, education, and career opportunities.
- Introduction:
Digitalization has changed the very way we live, work, and think. Digitalization is the use of digital technologies and data as well as interconnection that results in new or changes to existing activities. It is a buzzword that encompasses digital economy, big data, social media, the cloud, robots & automation, artificial intelligence, internet of things, and disruptive innovations caused by these digital technologies. It has been used to strengthen new modes of initiatives of running the government or any sector adopting concepts of e-governance, e-education, e-health, e-commerce, and e-business among others.
As Nepal is aspiring towards a digital society, the interrelation between the digital development and the gender aspect needs retrospection. It becomes significantly compelling to analyze the engagement of women in the process of digitalization as well as some barriers applicable to women in accessing these technology-driven services. It is also necessary to understand the impact on women’s professional careers with these advancements for identifying future direction towards creating gender-responsive digitalization.
- Samvad Objective:
In the above pretext, the 17th edition of the Digital Samvad aims to:
- Analyze the engagement and role of women in the process of digitalization as well as some barriers applicable to women,
- Underline the opportunities available and challenges undermining the engagement of women with the proliferation of digitalization,
- Envisages future action points for strengthening gender-responsive digitalization.
- Key takeaway:
- Questions/Issues to be Raised/Addressed:
- What are the existing possibilities that digitalization provides for strengthening women’s access to public services and economic opportunities?
- Please share any examples that can be considered as the best example where women are actively engaged in digitalization and related service and enterprises.
- What are barriers for women to extensively capitalize on the huge potentials provided by the advancement of digitalization?
- What are ways forward in the following areas: Awareness building on transforming harmful social norms, providing access to learning opportunities, increasing women’s access to wider opportunities, policy reforms for creating enabling environment for gender-responsive digitalization
- What are your major insights on strengthening women’s engagement in strengthening gender-responsive digitalization?
Program Design /Interaction Outline:
| Time | Particulars | Remarks |
| 1:00 – 1:05 | Opening, introduction, and welcome. | Er. Ganesh Shah |
| 1:05 – 1:15 | The objective highlight of the 17th edition of the Digital Samvad. | Ms. Shikha Shrestha |
| 1:15 – 1:25 | Setting the Ground for Samvad:
Base presentation on “Women and Digitalisation – My Journey” |
Ms. Lena Keshari Kansakar |
| 1:25 – 1:35 | Key remarks on “Women and Digitalisation- a Policy Perspective” | Ms. Roshani Kumari Shrestha |
| 1:35-1:45 | Conceptualization of gender-responsive digitalization | Ms. Shikha Shrestha |
| 1:45 – 2:15 | Resource persons briefly share their insights, inputs on the above presentations/ deliverables/ issues: 3-4 mins each
|
– Ms. Roja Kiran Basukala,
– Ms. Eeda Rizal, – Ms. Bina Bogati, – Ms. Anjana Lohani, – Ms. Sita Kumari (Poudel) Adhikar
Co-facilitated by: – Ms. Shikha Shrestha – Ms. Palpasa Kansakar Tuladhar |
| 2:15 – 2:40 | Samvad, the Dialogue:
Cross – Interaction and dialogue between the domain champions, resource persons, and presenters on samvad topic of Women and Digitalisation in Nepal.
|
|
| 2:40 – 3:05 | Open floor discussion and follow-up samvad between the participants, domain champions, presenters, and resource persons. | |
| 3:05 – 3:20 | Samvad Conclusion:
Concluding Remarks (1 -2 minutes each) from presenters and Resource persons. |
|
| 3:20 – 3:25 | Summary of the Digital Samvad. | Ms. Saraswati Dhakal (Saru) |
| 3:25 – 3:30 | Appreciation and Closing of the Interaction | Ms. Gunakeshari Pradhan |
| 3:30 – onwards | Zoom Group Photo Session – Screenshot followed by Open Mic and Zoom Networking session. | All Resource Person and Participants can interact with each other informally. |
Program Details:
Topic: Digital Samvad 17 – Women and Digitalisation: Expanding the horizon of opportunities
Date: 22nd August 2020 (Bhadra 06, 2077), Saturday
Time: 1:00 – 3:30 PM (NPT), Zoom Room opens 12:45 PM onwards
Venue: Online via Zoom @ https://nren.zoom.us/j/67401216494
Zoom ID (Zoom Number): 674 0121 6494
For more information: https://bit.ly/2Dthjr2
