How Gender is Embedded in the National ICT Policy of Malawi

Abstract

A national ICT policy acts as a plan and a guide in fostering development and implementation of ICT for a country. The effectiveness of national ICT policy in addressing social development challenges calls for inclusion of different segments of the society. Research has shown that in most cases the interests of dominant groups override those of less dominant ones. This paper examined how the national ICT policy of Malawi supports gender equality. The study draws on Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action to examine validity claims of the statements in the national ICT policy documents. The findings showed that the statements on gender in the early version of policy were in areas of commitment to gender, community participation and equitable capacity building in supporting development and implementation of ICT initiatives. However, the final draft of the national ICT policy omitted some of the principles for gender especially on commitment to gender equality. The study makes recommendations for policy makers to consider gender equity in all the phases for policy process.

Keywords: National ICT Policy, Critical Analysis, Gender equality, Malawi