World Bank supports programmes for women in tech

The World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the gender gap in technology and science fields by supporting programmes that empower women with digital skills and STEM education.

The institution emphasised that while digital technologies can expand economic opportunities for women, they can also widen the digital divide if existing inequalities persist.

In a recent blog post on its website, the World Bank noted that women and girls remain under-represented in information and communication technology education and careers, despite the increasing demand for digital skills in the global economy.

Citing data from its Gender Data Portal, the institution highlighted disparities in female ICT graduates, with numbers exceeding 50 per cent in countries like The Gambia, Jordan, and Sint Maarten, while dropping as low as 10 per cent in the Maldives.

“The World Bank Group is working with partners to close the digital divide so women and girls can reap more economic, entrepreneurial, and job benefits from the digital transformation,” the institution stated.

‘This includes supporting programmes to increase digital skills, expand the use of digital platforms and services, and create more inclusive digital public infrastructure,’ it added.

The organisation stressed the importance of education in improving women’s participation in the formal labour market, noting that better-educated women are more likely to secure higher incomes. However, in most countries, female students make up far less than 50 per cent of STEM graduates.

To address this challenge, the World Bank has been supporting initiatives aimed at boosting women’s access to education and employment opportunities in tech-related fields.

In the Republic of Benin, for example, the National Employment Agency, through the World Bank’s Youth Inclusion Project, introduced the ‘Azôli’ programme to tackle unemployment and underemployment among women and youth with limited education.

Similarly, in the Kyrgyz Republic, the Livelihoods for Youth Community Support Project has been working to bridge the women’s employment gap by enhancing skills development and employability.

Through these programmes, the World Bank aims to ensure that women are not left behind in the global digital transformation, advocating policies and investments that promote inclusive economic growth.