UNCTAD Report Identifies Barriers Facing Women Digital Entrepreneurs in Africa
SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology | Ministry of Women & Child Development
On 27 August 2025, UNCTAD released “Breaking Down Barriers for Women Digital Entrepreneurs: Insights from Africa”. The report analyses the challenges women face in Africa’s growing digital economy, identifying persistent barriers such as restricted access to finance, digital infrastructure gaps, gender bias in investment and procurement, and limited inclusion in policymaking. It also points to social and cultural norms that constrain women’s ability to scale enterprises in the digital sector.
While focused on Africa, the findings resonate with contexts like India, where women entrepreneurs in technology and e-commerce also encounter financing hurdles, infrastructure inequities, and systemic underrepresentation in innovation policy spaces. UNCTAD calls for gender-responsive financing models, inclusive incubation programmes, and embedding gender equity into national digital strategies.
The study highlights that enabling women to participate equally in digital entrepreneurship is not only about fairness but also a pathway to stronger innovation ecosystems and inclusive growth. For India, aligning Digital India and Startup India initiatives with gender-responsive frameworks could amplify women’s role in the digital economy.
Follow the full report here:
Breaking Down Barriers for Women Digital Entrepreneurs: Insights from Africa