Digital Skills Cut Women's Poverty More Than Tech Access

Women don't need more smartphones. They need the skills to use them to escape poverty.

New findings from West Java Province in Indonesia reveal what actually works when fighting women's economic inequality through technology. The answer isn't handing out devices or building internet infrastructure alone.

Jabar Digital Service surveyed 284 women across the province in 2024 to understand what they truly needed. A striking 89% said they wanted to learn digital competencies, not just gain access to technology.

The women identified three clear motivations for digital training: building professional skills, pursuing personal development, and preparing for careers in the digital sector. Digital marketing topped the list of most wanted training areas.

This matters because women own a significant portion of Indonesia's small and medium businesses, which contribute substantially to the country's GDP. Their biggest challenge in the digital economy isn't having a phone or computer. It's knowing how to market their products online.

Researcher Dyana Jatnika from Universitas Padjadjaran points to a persistent gap. UN Women data shows women are 25% less likely than men to have the knowledge and skills needed to use technology effectively, even when they have physical access.

The findings challenge how governments and organizations approach digital poverty reduction. For 25 years since the Beijing Platform for Action identified poverty as a critical issue for women globally, the gap has remained stubbornly wide.

The Ripple Effect

When women gain digital marketing skills, the impact extends far beyond individual income. Women business owners typically reinvest earnings into their families and communities at higher rates than men, creating cycles of opportunity.

The West Java initiative shows another promising trend. Most women preferred online classes over in-person training, allowing them to learn while managing household and work responsibilities. This flexibility removes traditional barriers that kept women from professional development.

The research suggests a fundamental shift in how poverty reduction programs should work. Instead of designing solutions for women, effective programs must center change with women, building their independence, confidence, and decision-making power alongside technical knowledge.

Indonesia's approach offers a replicable model. Focus resources on knowledge-based skills training in areas women actually request, deliver it flexibly through online platforms, and measure success by economic participation, not just technology access.

The path forward is clear: give women the digital skills to build their own economic futures, and watch poverty rates fall.