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Empowering Women and Girls through DigiKen

On this International Women's Day, we join the global community in recognizing the theme, "For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." This year's focus underscores the critical need to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for women and girls, fostering a feminist future of inclusivity.
Aligned with this vision, the DigiKen programme is committed to empowering women and girls in Kenya through digital inclusion and equal opportunities. The programme’s mission contributes towards bridging the gender digital divide, ensuring that every woman and girl has access to the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to thrive in today's rapidly evolving digital economy.
30 Years of the Beijing Platform for Action: Driving Digital Equality
As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, it is vital to reflect on the progress made and the work still needed to achieve gender equality, particularly in the digital world. The Beijing Platform for Action recognized technology as a key area for advancing women's rights, and today, digital inclusion is more critical than ever. DigiKen builds on this legacy by advocating for gender-responsive policies, expanding digital access, and equipping women with the skills to fully participate in the digital economy.
Unlocking Equal Rights through Digital Literacy
DigiKen is committed to equipping women and girls with digital literacy skills, enabling them to access information, education and economic opportunities online. By fostering these essential digital skills, DigiKen empowers women and girls to fully utilize their rights in the digital sphere and ensures their meaningful participation in Kenya's ongoing digital transformation.
In rural and marginalized communities, women and girls often face significant barriers to accessing technology and digital platforms. DigiKen is committed to bridging this gap, creating opportunities for all women, regardless of their background, to thrive in an increasingly digital-first world.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
DigiKen also fosters entrepreneurship by providing training and resources to women-led businesses. Through this, women entrepreneurs can expand their reach, access financing, and scale their businesses, creating new opportunities for themselves and their communities. By advancing women’s economic empowerment, DigiKen contributes to a feminist future where women hold economic power and control over their lives and destinies.
A Future of Inclusion and Safety
A key component of DigiKen’s work is fostering safe and inclusive online spaces for women and girls, with a strong focus on addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). We prioritize digital safety, cybersecurity, and prevention of online harassment, equipping women with the skills and confidence to navigate the digital world by tackling TFGBV and promoting safer online spaces, DigiKen enables women to engage in the digital economy without fear, fully embracing their rights and power.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, DigiKen reaffirms its commitment to empowering women and girls in Kenya, upholding their rights, advancing equality, and supporting their full empowerment. Together, we can unlock a future where all women and girls have the opportunity to thrive, lead, and make their mark in the digital world.
Join us as we work towards a feminist future where no one is left behind!
What is DigiKen?
DigiKen is a transformative UN initiative leveraging digital platforms to drive sustainable development in Kenya. Led by UNESCO, UNCDF, UN Women, and UNEP, with support from the Joint SDG Fund, it fosters a thriving digital ecosystem aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Kenya.
By expanding digital opportunities, DigiKen empowers women, girls, youth, and marginalized communities—particularly in arid, semi-arid, and urban informal settlements—to participate in the digital economy. It nurtures digital entrepreneurs by supporting homegrown enterprises with essential resources and expertise.
To bridge the digital divide, DigiKen equips government officials with critical digital skills to lead inclusive and sustainable transformations while safeguarding human rights. It also promotes digital literacy, entrepreneurship training, and AI-driven solutions through 15 Digital Innovation Hubs.
By 2027, DigiKen aims to:
✅ Create 4,500 direct jobs (20,000 indirect)
✅ Impact over 2 million digital platform users
✅ Support 150 MSMEs in accessing financing
✅ Train 20,000+ government officials
Beyond economic empowerment, DigiKen strengthens healthcare, education, gender equality, and environmental sustainability, ensuring technology becomes a force for progress, inclusion, and prosperity in Kenya.
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.