"The meaningful connectivity standard is a tool to raise the bar for internet access and set more ambitious policy goals for digital development. It sets minimum thresholds across the four dimensions of internet access that matter most to users. These are: regular internet use - minimum threshold: d ... aily use; an appropriate device - minimum threshold: access to a smartphone; enough data - minimum threshold: an unlimited broadband connection at home or a place of work or study; a fast connection - minimum threshold: 4G mobile connectivity." (Introduction) more

"Over 68% of countries in Africa have a Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF) in place; 62% of these funds are active. Just 3 of the 37 countries with USAFs have universal access policies that explicitly aim to connect women and girls through the fund. Just 23 African countries openly publish det ... ails on their USAF activities. There is US$177 million sitting unspent in USAFs across the 13 African countries where these financial details are available. Across all 37 USAFs in Africa, unspent funds total an estimated US$408 million. This amount could bring approximately 6 million women online, or could be used to provide digital skills training to nearly 16 million women and girls. Disbursement rates for USAF funds are low, averaging around just 54% in 2016. Just four of the USAFs studied carry a zero balance: Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda." (Executive summary, page 3) more

"Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to be a serious problem in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region. Jamaicans have increasingly adopted information and communication technologies (ICTs) over the last two decades. In the era of ICTs, new forms of online GBV are evolving, and ICTs also offer a m ... eans of facilitating and escalating offline forms of GBV. Unfortunately, there is very little research in the region to date examining the relationship between GBV and ICTs, apart from anecdotal reports into forms of GBV where ICTs are a factor including stalking, harassment, invasion of privacy, and revenge porn’. This article draws on one of the very few research studies undertaken in Jamaica so far into online abuse and harassment of women, and the role that ICTs play in offline GBV against women in Jamaica. The research suggests that more needs to be done by different actors – including government and civil society – to recognise and respond to GBV and ICTs. esponses should include both specific policy reforms and targeted educational/awareness programmes." (Abstract) more