Telecenters and the expansion of human capabilities among rural women
Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication
ISSN: 2514-9342
Article publication date: 11 February 2020
Issue publication date: 7 September 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess the contribution of telecenters in expanding the capabilities of rural women to achieve their development outcomes in three rural districts in Tanzania.
Design/methodology/approach
The study conducted 12 focus group discussions with 37 rural women users and 36 rural women non-users of telecenters and semi-structured interviews with telecenter managers in the selected districts. The framework for the study is based on Sen’s capability approach.
Findings
The study noted that telecenters may enable rural women to build some capabilities (social, financial, human and political capabilities), and inhibit others, resulting in diverse development outcomes, based on the choices made and conversion factors. These conversion factors included institutional factors (inadequate computers, space and personnel, unreliable electrical power and slow internet connectivity) and individual factors (multiple responsibilities, status, low-level of education, language barrier, lack of information and communication technology (ICT) skills and technology efficacy and inability to afford ICT short courses). Other conversion factors (e.g. availability of affordable ICTs) enabled rural women to build their capabilities.
Originality/value
This is a comprehensive study that provides findings for rural telecenters to plan and allow rural women to expand their capabilities and achieve their development goals in Tanzania or other settings with similar conditions.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) and National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa for funding this study.
Citation
Lwoga, E.T. and Chigona, W. (2020), "Telecenters and the expansion of human capabilities among rural women", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. 69 No. 6/7, pp. 501-520. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-11-2019-0136
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited