Tools

Information and communication technologies (ICTs), like mobile phones, have the potential to democratize information, lower business costs, and expand communication networks for rural and developing communities. There are, however, disparities in access to ICTs between men and women due to factors including literacy rates and access to the most current technologies.

The recently released Gender and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Survey Toolkit, developed by the FHI 3600 Mobile Solutions Technical Assistance and Research (mSTAR) project in partnership with USAID. The toolkit provides tools for USAID, and partner organizations, to assess current gender and ICT trends and collect sex-disaggregated data on gender and ICT access and use, especially mobile phones. 

The toolkit is divided into a Survey Preparation Guide and Data Analysis Guide. Image Credit: Gender and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Survey Toolkit

Survey Preparation Guide:

The first section of the toolkit helps researchers consider their research design, including research questions and methodologies. The toolkit also provides women-specific considerations such as:

• Culturally appropriate meeting locations
• Convenient timing
• Childcare

Data Analysis Guide:

Once researchers have collected their data, the toolkit provides information about cleaning and coding data, and using this data to answer research question and provide support for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) objectives. 

Download the toolkit here.