FAST FACTS GSMA mWOMEN

60% annually between 1994 and

In 2007, 23 African economies 2005.
were growing individually at 5% or
PREPARED BY:
more; in total 18 non-oil producing
Ms. Margaret Barnes
African countries have averaged

growth of 5.5% between 1995 and Ms. Natalie Nicholson

2005.

 African ingenuity and

entrepreneurship attracted a new

wave of foreign investment of

approximately $30.5 billion in 2007,

up from $22 billion in 2006 and just

$4 billion in 1995.

 Inflation in sub-Saharan Africa $50 billion investment to

decreased from 18% in 2000 to
increase mobile coverage
in sub-Saharan Africa
approximately 8% in 2008.

 Senegal, Burkina Faso, and

Botswana were among the top ten

business climate reformers in the

GSMA Sub-Saharan Cell
world in 2007-2008.
MWmpowere Phone Use
 Cell phone subscriptions in sub-

Saharan Africa grew by more than

Kenya: Cell phones GSMA mWOMEN
improve efficiency for
farmers
A new effort in Kenya is using cell
The vision of the programme is that by
technology to enhance profitability
increasing mobile phone ownership and
of rural farmers. The number of
access to life changing services, women in
mobile phone subscribers increased
the developing world will achieve a greater
from by 300 percent between 1999
sense of security, independence, economic
and 2007 in Kenya. The Kenyan
opportunity and connection with the world
Agricultural Commodity Exchange
outside their homes. This in turn will lead to
(KACE) has linked up with Safaricom,
greater empowerment and control over
Kenya's largest cell phone company,
their lives and those of their families.
to equip farmers with up-to-date
Specifically, the programme aims to close
commodity market prices over their
the mobile phone gender gap by 50% over
phones. For about $0.20, farmers
three years, enabling mobile phone
can access commodity prices at
ownership for 150 million women and
markets throughout Kenya, allowing
leveraging the mobile channel to provide
them to reduce transaction costs
value added services at scale in women’s
and bypass middlemen, who often Empowering
health, education, finance and
Women through Mobile
charge below-market rates. KACE is
Technology
also looking into using FM radio in
rural areas to disseminate
information about commodity prices
at markets.