Role of the ICT in Women Empowerment and Achieving SDGs: A Case Study of Developing Countries

The aim of the study is to analyze the ways women are empowed through information and communication technology (ICT) and fostering the process of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Women in developing countries are facing economic and social hardships and have limited access to ICT, which in turn translate into their lack of skills, lower literacy rate and restricted social engagement. Therefore, present study explores the role of ICT on women empowerment in 51 developing countries by conducting dynamic panel data modelling over the period of 2000-17. The study finds that ICT has significant and positive contribution on female labor force participation rate. We have used Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) for handling estimation of dynamic panel data. Control variables like GDP growth and government expenditure on education have positive and statistically significant role to enhance women empowerment. Findings of this study implies that the ICT has an impact on women empowerment and ICT can help in achieving the SDGs related to women empowerment. Our results show expected signs of control variables, the positive and significant impact of GDP growth in terms of economic development on women empowerment.