Suhuruliya 2.0

“Unleash Women’s potential in the Digital Economy”

About Suhuruliya 2.0

In an increasingly digital world, ensuring gender equality in access to technology and digital skills is essential for fostering inclusive economic growth and empowering women to thrive in the digital economy. This executive summary provides a synopsis of the comprehensive national strategy designed to enhance women’s digital competency and bridge the gender gap in the technology sector.

The primary objective of the Suhuruliya 2.0 national strategy is to empower women of all backgrounds with the digital competencies necessary to participate fully in the digital society and economy. This strategy seeks to break down barriers to women’s digital inclusion, promote gender diversity in technology fields, and leverage technology as a tool for women’s economic and social advancement.

This strategy is consisting of comprehensive initiatives aimed at empowering women to thrive in the digital era. By focusing on education, training, and creating an inclusive digital environment, the strategy aims to equip females of all ages with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the digital world. Through collaboration with educational institutions, industry partners, and community organizations, the strategy envisions a future where women are at the forefront of innovation, contributing to economic growth and societal progress. By fostering digital competency among females, the nation will unlock new opportunities, enhance diversity, and ensure a brighter, more equitable future for all.

This is a journey of collaboration and determination. We invite governments, businesses, educators, civil society, and women themselves to join us in this endeavour. By unleashing women’s potential in the digital economy, we are not only fostering gender equality but also propelling our societies toward greater prosperity and innovation.

Vision

‘Unleash Women’s potential in the Digital Economy’.

(Making Sri Lankan females effectively consume the benefits of the Digital Economy through the engaging proactively and positively next version of the Industrial Revolution by making them digitally capable, enhancing access to digital technologies and life enhancing opportunities through improved digital skills”)

Mission

Creating an enabling environment and implementation of strategic initiatives through interventions, mediation, facilitation, prioritization, and policy reforms for successful adoption of digital skills and competencies among all segments of females and breaking barriers which refrain women in incorporating digital technologies for livelihood development to make them in par with digital skills and competencies required to unleash their potential in the Digital Economy.

Suhuruliya 2.0 Strategy

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About Suhuruliya Phase I

Women in ICT Frontier Initiative (WIFI) for “gender equality and empowerment of women in society” was embarked in 2016 by the United Nations Asia Pacific Centre for ICT -(UNAPCICT) in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations. This programme aimed to promote women’s entrepreneurship in the Asia-Pacific through enhancing capabilities of women entrepreneurs in ICT and entrepreneurship so that their enterprises can become more productive, and hopefully grow and be sustainable.

ICTA jointly with UNAPCIT launched the first ever nationwide “Women and ICT Frontier Initiative (WIFI)” in Sri Lanka in 2017. The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs partnered in strengthening and rolling out this initiative. The WIFI adoption in SRI LANKA was customized to suit Sri Lankan context and named as “Suhuruliya” “Pudumaippen” (Smart Woman), and META partnered with the “She means Business” in 2018 with this initiative. Moreover, multiple other government and nongovernment entities also tied up with Suhurulia in the national roll-out. The phase I of Shuhuruliya in 2022 with following outcomes.

1. 17,500 capacitated female entrepreneurs and 340 capacitated Women Development Officers (WDOs) on Digital Skills and Digital Marketing Skills
2. Conducive policies and attention given to women empowerment through digital by the ministry of women and child affairs with other policy making entities.
3. Increased Digital Literacy among 47% of the females who participated in Suhuruliya programs.
4. Increased Digital Marketing adoption among 34% of the participants in their businesses.
5. Increased income of entrepreneurs by 36% by adopting digital marketing in their businesses.
6. LKR 1.2bn annual increase of the revenue through digital marketing adoption in businesses.