The digital divide is a manifestation of exclusion, poverty and inequality and continues to be
exacerbated due to the effects of unemployment, poorly functioning digital skilling programmes and
socio-cultural norms in some economies, depriving women equal access to digital services. Digital skills
provide the poor a catalyst to break out of the cycle of poverty and empower themselves. A threepronged
digital skills strategy is required for developing countries: (1) Identify the skills required for
employment (2) develop a holistic digital skills upliftment strategy, and (3) address the social and
cultural norms through which these skills and systems are mediated.