The Mediating Role of Internet Adoption on Gender Equality and Economic Development in West Africa.

This study examines the role of gender equality and internet adoption in driving human development in West African countries, with the Human Development Index (HDI) serving as the measure of economic development. The primary objective is to assess how gender equality and internet penetration adoption interactively influence human development in the West Africa region. Using a panel data set of West African countries, multiple econometric models were applied, including Panel Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Fixed Effect Model (FEM), Random Effect Model (REM), and Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) to ensure robustness and address potential heteroscedasticity and cross-sectional dependency issues. Findings indicate that gender equality and income levels are consistently positive contributors to economic development, while internet adoption generally supports human development, though its impact varies across models. The interaction terms reveal that combining broadband access with gender equality significantly enhances human development outcomes. The study concludes that policies promoting both gender inclusivity and digital infrastructure are essential for fostering economic growth in West Africa. Recommendations include investing in broadband infrastructure, implementing gender-inclusive policies, fostering public-private partnerships, and adopting inclusive digital policy frameworks to support women’s access to internet-based economic opportunities. These strategies are critical for harnessing the synergistic potential of gender equality and internet access to drive inclusive development in the region.