Determinants of financial inclusion and the digital divide among Somali women
Evidence from the 2020 Somalia Demographic and Health survey
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22111386 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Abdirizak Mohamed Moumin (0009-0002-9453-4048, Amoud University, corresponding author), Abdirashid Jama Abdullahi (0009-0004-4041-4985, Amoud University), Hassan Mohamed Heban (0009-0004-8658-0735, Amoud University), Yurub Abdirahman Moumin (0009-0003-8846-8395, Amoud University), Omer Mohamud Muhumed (0009-0002-2502-268X, Amoud University), Abdalle Ali Yusuf (0009-0002-9076-388X, Amoud University), Khadar Mowlid Abdi (0009-0007-9987-7855, Amoud University), Omran Salih (0000-0002-7861-5502, Amoud University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-12-31 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cogent Social Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2331-1886 • E-ISSN: 2331-1886 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/23311886.2026.2637205 |
| OpenAlex | W7133334363 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 29 |
Financial inclusion and digital access drive women’s economic empowerment, yet determinants in fragile states remain under-researched. This study provides a micro-level empirical analysis of these phenomena among women in Somalia, where a vibrant mobile money market coexists with deep structural barriers. Using 2020 Somalia Demographic and Health Survey data (N=12,408), we employed multivariate logistic regression to identify distinct predictors for each outcome. Findings reveal a bifurcated reality: financial inclusion is driven by pragmatic necessity, with nomadic women having significantly higher odds of inclusion (AOR=2.57; 95% CI [1.68, 3.94]) than urban counterparts, reflecting heavy reliance on mobile money. Conversely, the digital divide follows a socio-economic gradient: wealth and secondary education increase Internet access odds by over 14 and 15 times, respectively. Strikingly, textual literacy is negatively associated with Internet use (AOR=0.32; 95% CI [0.25, 0.41]), suggesting a hypothesized "digital orality" where non-textual platforms facilitate digital participation. This study documents a context-specific literacy–digital paradox in a fragile state. Policy interventions should strengthen mobile money ecosystems while exploring voice-based approaches to digital fluency to mitigate exclusion in Somalia’s evolving digital economy
Digital divide · Digital Literacy · Financial inclusion · Microfinance · Odds · Psychological intervention · Somali · The Internet · Economic Growth and Development · ICT Impact and Policies · Microfinance and Financial Inclusion
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| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |