from ALEXIS DOUMBIA in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Ivory Coast Bureau
ABIDJAN, (CAJ News) – EFFORTS to upskill women and girls in Ivory Coast with digital skills have received a major boost following a partnership between AmazoOn du Web, a local non-profit organisation, and Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
They have partnered under the ACT-Femmes project rolling out in the West African country.
GAC, Canada’s department for diplomatic and consular relations, promoting international trade, and leading international development and humanitarian assistance, is funding the initiative that has kicked off in the Tchologo region of northern Ivory Coast.
The project supports women and adolescent girls in vulnerable communities by combining digital literacy with education, advocacy and community engagement.
Women learn how to use digital tools to access information, communicate effectively and participate more fully in the economy.
Éléonore Koffi, president of AmazoOn du Web, explained that ACT-Femmes also integrated broader wellbeing and protection awareness into digital and community learning, ensuring women had the tools and confidence to seek support, share information, and strengthen their social networks.
“Together, these approaches create pathways toward informed decision-making and greater independence,” Koffi said.
Overall, the initiative aims to eliminate digital exclusion, which remains a major hindrance and fuels inequality.
In Ivory Coast, a country of 33 million people, women have substantially less access to and usage of digital technologies compared to men.
Founded in 2012, AmazoOn du Web focuses on empowering women through technology.
In 2024, the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) recognised the organisation for supporting community empowerment initiatives.
– CAJ News