Infrastructure underpins core economic activity and is an essential foundation for achieving inclusive and sustainable economic and social growth as it enhances access to services, education and work opportunities. Yet the world in which we live is fundamentally unequal. It is designed, built and maintained without considering the needs of all members of our society, including the most vulnerable. Gender-blind infrastructure often empowers men but impedes women and girls’ ability to contribute equally in society.

On the sidelines of the 62nd Commission on the Status of Women in New York on 16 March, ESCAP launched the EGovforWomen Online Toolkit – the first region-wide toolbox to support gender mainstreaming of E-Government. Through a set of five comprehensive modules, this innovative public resource provides key pointers for policymakers on gender-responsive design of e-service delivery, e-participation and connectivity initiatives, as well as introduces a capabilities-based approach to evaluate E-Government for women’s empowerment.