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Moving Beyond the Rhetoric: Who Really Benefits from Investments in Digital Infrastructure in Low-Income and Low-Literacy Communities in Malawi?


Author(s) : Edister Samson Jamu, Tiwonge Davis Manda, Gowokani Chijere Chirwa
Global Transformations in Media and Communication Research - A Palgrave and IAMCR Series
1
Citations (scopus)

Abstract


ICTs are touted as a key enabler for empowerment of marginalised communities. Key areas of interest include access to financial services, education and e-government services. However, digital technologies have the potential to marginalise those who lack access. This chapter discusses the digital divide in the context of Malawi, a developing country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Focussing on access and utility gaps of the digital didvide, analysis of didgital inequalities is guided by the Digital Human Capital (DHC) framework. It utilises data published by the Reserve Bank of Malawi, Malawi National Statistical Office, and International Telecommunications Union. Findings show that location, education and income remain key factors to ICT access.


Original language en
Pages (from-to) 223-246
Publication status Published - 2020

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10.1007/978-3-030-32706-4_11

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UN SDGs

This research output contributes to the following United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

sdg sdg sdg

Access document

10.1007/978-3-030-32706-4_11

License

http://www.springer.com/tdm