Rural ICT Hubs for Women and Girls (GRZ-UN Joint Programme on GBV)

Launched on 3 April 2024 at Chongwe Secondary School with 21 networked desktop computers and a year of donated internet access, the first of three rural ICT hubs was established under the GRZ-UN Joint Programme on Gender-Based Violence Phase II, funded by the Governments of Ireland and Sweden and implemented by UNDP together with the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA).

To give rural communities shared access to computers and connectivity, and to equip rural women and girls with digital literacy, digital-finance and online-safety skills, including recognising cyberbullying and using GBV reporting mechanisms.

Sister hubs were subsequently set up at girls' schools in Chisamba and Itezhi-Tezhi districts. Through the hubs, UNDP and ZICTA deliver training in digital literacy, digital financial literacy and online safety.

UNDP and ZICTA report training more than 700 women and girls in digital literacy, digital financial literacy and online safety since the April 2024 launch.

Internet access was initially pledged for only one year, so continued funding beyond the pilot period is not yet confirmed.