How Digital Entrepreneurship Bridges The Gender Gap In Tech And Creates New Opportunities For Financial Independence
The Mt Kenya Times 
Judy Wairimu Copia Agent applauds for transforming her to embrace digital technology. Photo /Elizabeth Angira
By Elizabeth Angira
Worth Noting:
- Wairimu says that digital entrepreneurship allows women to work from home or a remote location, which is beneficial for those living in rural areas with limited job opportunities, this flexibility has also helped them to balance their work and personal responsibilities.
- Through Copia’s work with Agents, have increased women’s access to equitable work opportunities. They have empowered Kenyan women, who make up 81% of our over 60,000 Agents. These women provide essential goods to 75% of our customers, who are also women and contribute to their communities and families.
- On average, an agent goes from handling thirteen Customers per day before becoming a Copia Agent to handling twenty-four Customers per day after becoming a Copia Agent in their overall business.
Copia is continuously investing in digital literacy as they believe that more women need to be trained in skills that will empower them to take advantage of the digital opportunities. Through their Agent training programs, Copia has been able to boost capacity development and community literacy.
The United Nations theme for International Women’s Day 2023, on 8 March is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” It advocates that women have better access, representation and protection in technology. World Vision is facilitating access to technology, particularly in the areas of economic empowerment and financial services.
While they work to help women climb this ladder of digital equity and access, never forget the women who have not yet approached the ladder at all. We must be careful not to let these women fade into the backgrounds of our minds or be deprioritized in our work.
Through Copia women have embraced technology unlike in the past.
Judy Wairimu Copia agent lauds Copia for transforming her to embrace digital technology.
Wairimu says that she was reluctant in the past not to embrace technology, she used to live in fear how she will transform from analog to digital till her friend introduced her to Copia.
“I can proudly say, my life has drastically changed unlike in the past where we used to travel long distance to seek services over not embracing technology,” she says.
Wairimu cites that Copia has reduced costs and saves time, one can order goods and receive them instant as they pursue with other activities.
“Unlike in the past where we used to walk long distances going to purchase goods in the market, nowadays, it is a phone call away and orders, “she says.
She says that through Copia she has expanded her business and sells clothes, groceries, and vegetables and it ha increased additional source of income.
Wairimu says that digital entrepreneurship allows women to work from home or a remote location, which is beneficial for those living in rural areas with limited job opportunities, this flexibility has also helped them to balance their work and personal responsibilities.
Through Copia’s work with Agents, have increased women’s access to equitable work opportunities. They have empowered Kenyan women, who make up 81% of our over 60,000 Agents. These women provide essential goods to 75% of our customers, who are also women and contribute to their communities and families.
On average, an agent goes from handling thirteen Customers per day before becoming a Copia Agent to handling twenty-four Customers per day after becoming a Copia Agent in their overall business.
According to them they focus on giving our customers a variety of quality products and creating access to them, online platform allows for middle to low-income Customers to purchase desired goods which are then delivered to their family and friends for free. This in turn opens our local suppliers and manufacturers to a wider market.
The United Nations theme for International Women’s Day 2023, on 8 March is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” It advocates that women have better access, representation and protection in technology.
Dr Abel Mokoro, an economist, says that while the country is working to help women climb the ladder of digital equity and access, never forget the women who have not yet approached the ladder at all.
“We must be careful not to let these women fade into the backgrounds of our minds or be deprioritized in our work,” he says.
Dr Mokoro says by using digital platforms, women entrepreneurs can reach a wider audience beyond their local area, this can help them to expand their customer base and increase their revenue.
According to him starting a digital business can provide women with an additional source of income and improve their financial independence and this can have a positive impact on their overall well-being and their ability to invest in their families and communities.
He says that Digital entrepreneurship has empowered women by giving them the tools and resources to start and grow their own businesses, thus help them to build their confidence and leadership skills, and increase their participation in the economy.
Breakdown of barriers to digital inclusion
According to UNESCO, only 30% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa participate in the tech sector and receive STEM training.
Dr mokoro cites that technology has also helped women with the opportunity to overcome traditional barriers that have historically limited their participation in the workforce. These barriers can include lack of access to funding, networking opportunities, and mentorship.
He cites that digital entrepreneurship allows women to work from anywhere at any time, giving them the flexibility to balance their work and personal lives.
“This is especially beneficial for women who have caregiving responsibilities, as they can work from home or at flexible hours,” he says.
According to Copia, they have invested in capacity development and community literacy initiatives through their Agent training programs, which equip women and girls with skills to compete in the digital economy.
They continuously work to increase women’s access to financing and accelerate digital finance innovations, which we believe will help unlock more opportunities.
In 2021, Copia launched its digital and financial services to enhance its E-commerce offering by building payment, credit, and loan products for its Agents and Customers.
These solutions enable low-income consumers to gain access to financial services using technologies that are more readily accessible to them.
Access of Global Markets
Josephine Omanwa an entrepreneur, says that, Digital entrepreneurship enables women to access global markets without the need for physical infrastructure or a large workforce, thus allows women to tap into markets that were previously inaccessible to them, thereby increasing their potential for growth and profitability.
She also alludes that Digital entrepreneurship typically requires lower startup costs compared to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses.
“This is because digital businesses do not require physical infrastructure or inventory, and marketing can be done through social media and other online channels,” she says.
According to Omanwa Digital entrepreneurship provides women with access to online communities and networking opportunities, which can help them to build relationships and collaborate with other entrepreneurs. These communities can provide support, advice, and mentorship, which can be invaluable for women starting their own businesses.
Lucy Njenga a customer applauds Copia cites that that many digital businesses can be run from home, which offers women the opportunity to work around their existing commitments, such as caring for children or elderly relatives, this can significantly reduce the cost of childcare and other expenses associated with working outside the home.
Njenga says that digital entrepreneurship offers the opportunity for women to reach a global audience, which increases sales and revenue for women entrepreneurs. This can help to lower the cost of living by increasing income and reducing the need for other forms of financial support.
She cites that Copia it does not require physical storefront offices or warehouses helps to reduce the cost of running a business, which is especially beneficial for women entrepreneurs who may be operating on a tight budget.
According to Muthoni Njenga provides them with a more accessible and flexible way to start and run a business, to lower the high cost of living and increase financial independence.
Empowerment
Copia ‘s Vice President Marketing East Africa Catherine Mudachi cites that online platform allows for middle to low-income Customers to purchase desired goods which are then delivered to their family and friends for free, this in turn opens our local suppliers and manufacturers to a wider market.
Mudachi says that E- commerce Copia technology gives the women high access to order their good, hence saves them time and money.
Copia is continuously investing in digital literacy as we believe that more women need to be trained in skills that will empower them to take advantage of the digital opportunities. Through our Agent training programs, Copia has been able to boost capacity development and community literacy.
Through Copia’s work with Agents, they are increasing women’s access to equitable work opportunities.
They have empowered Kenyan women, who make up 81% of our over 60,000 Agents, provides essential goods to 75% of our customers, who are also women and contribute to their communities and families.
On average, an Agent goes from handling thirteen Customers per day before becoming a Copia Agent to handling twenty-four Customers per day after becoming a Copia Agent in their overall business.
Victor Agona, the Copia’s sells manager, Gusii region, said the company has identified the need of middle- and lower-class people including vulnerable groups where majority are women.
Agona said they have 40,000 agents in both Nyamira and Kisii counties who are able to link the customers and the company.
“Copia is a problem solver and this was witnessed during covid19, this is the time we got many customers and build trust with them,” said Agona on the sell.
Agona said the company makes sells of Ksh. 50M months from Kisii and Nyamira counties where they serve at least 30,000 customers.
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