The gender productivity gap in the agricultural sector is a major contributor to low productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. Literature suggests that women’s lower productivity is deeply rooted in structural disadvantages, whose policy solutions include the potential use of information and communication technology (ICT) to incrementally narrow gender productivity gaps. This study assessed the contribution of ICT platforms to the gender gap in potato productivity using 264 sampled farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. Men farmers had higher productivity (2.98 tons/acre) than women (2.01 tons/acre), with an observed mean gender gap of 6.7 per cent due to men’s structural advantage (65 per cent), women’s structural disadvantage (19 per cent), and endowment factors (17 per cent). The use of ICT platforms significantly lessens men’s structural advantage. These findings demonstrate the need for gender-responsive provision of technical knowledge on the use of ICT platform services through institutional support services that provide timely and relevant production and marketing information to women farmers.

This practical note explores the impact of transformative learning through an international design competition focused on net-zero housing in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on engagement, the competition equipped young professionals with practical skills to address climate-responsive housing challenges. Participants designed affordable, sustainable homes using renewable energy solutions tailored to middle-income households in a Global South setting, supported by workshops, skill-building sessions, and expert feedback. Survey findings highlighted the potential for such initiatives to bridge education, policy, and practice, promoting inclusivity and innovation. This work demonstrates the transformative role of experiential education in advancing sustainability considerations, addressing affordability, and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).