Information and communication technology for urban development: a gender perspective

Information and Communication Technology for urban development is based on the premise that technologies have the potential to fulfil human desire for progress thus, improved livelihoods. The implication is that people appropriate technology for self fulfilment. The exploit of technology is certainly transforming the world. However, there is a problem in understanding ICT for development within the confines of technology alone without assessing how it impacts on different gender. It is easy to lose sight when we merely change the world without really understanding it. This is because technology is embedded in a social context. Hence, the concern that, in making use of factors of production such as technology, the digital divide between technology poor and technology rich is proliferating. This probably explains the current digital divide debate and its profusion in communication studies. However, little is known about digital gender inequalities that are perpetuated by ICTD in developing countries. Hence, this paper hopes to fill this gap by highlighting the benefits accrued to accessing and using ICT by the urban populace in Migori town while addressing the impact it may have on different gender. Additionally, it is the argument in this paper that gender responsive ICT can be a panacea for narrowing the digital divide between the technology haves and have not by addressing concerns of different gender with regard to access and use of ICT.