International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Empowering Future Generations

Around the world, women and girls are contributing to the scientific and technological advancements that are rapidly impacting our lives. From medical breakthroughs to new space discoveries, from advanced quantum computing research to new scientific methods to understand the natural world around us, women and girls are shattering glass ceilings. Yet structural barriers and social norms remain that limit women and girls from unlocking their full potential. Women represent only 35 per cent of global Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) graduates at the tertiary level. Globally, often due to these persisting structural barriers, about 1 billion women and girls still lack the skills they need to succeed in rapidly changing job markets.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated on 11 February every year, is an opportunity to promote full access and equal participation for women and girls in science and related fields. UN teams around the world are supporting the work of national and other partners in driving this change on the ground, including governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions and members of the communities at all levels. By supporting national investments into education for women and girls, including STEM, the UN contributes to accelerating progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UN-backed initiatives are nurturing a new generation of female scientists and tech innovators—ensuring that all women and girls are in the driver’s seat of their countries’ progress.

Cambodia: Unlocking Digital Futures through Game Innovation

For example, our UN in Cambodia team, through the work of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners, inspires young girls in the northwestern city of Siem Reap to acquire digital skills at a young age. Through “Game Jam,” a video game-development competition that is part the Skills4Girls Game Changers Coalition, a global collaboration between UNICEF and the gaming and technology industry. The UN in Cambodia and its partners leverages game development to teach STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) skills to girls.

Non Sreynich, a 15-year-old student at Aranh Raingsey School, her three teammates, and several other competitors are introduced to the world of STEAM and sustainable development priorities through coding. Non’s team won the contest, developing a video game that promoted environmental conservation. Before participating in the initiative, Non had limited access to digital devices. “Skills4Girls” provided her with regular access to a computer, boosting her ability to develop new digital skills. “I was with a computer almost every day, which meant I could explore,” she said.

In Cambodia, where girls account for only 39 per cent of the students interested in science-related fields, the initiative provides practical experience with tools like Construct 3, a game-making software, and digital skills training for teachers. It builds technical expertise and fosters self-confidence and leadership, encouraging girls to pursue tech careers.

Learn more about the initiative on UNICEF Cambodia’s website.

Kosovo: Breaking Barriers with STEM Scholarships

(References to Kosovo on this website shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).) 

The UN in Kosovo team also supports national initiatives to transform STEM education for women and girls. Desara Qerimi is a 21-year-old Computer and Software Engineering student at the University of Prishtina. She is one of more than 4,500 young women and girls who leveraged a one-year STEM scholarship, implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation of Kosovo, as part of its commitments to the UN’s Generation Equality campaign.

“The scholarship has played an important role during my study years. It has been a key financial support, allowing me to explore my field more outside of my university,” says Desara, “For me, the vital part and the value lie behind what this program symbolizes, is that women and girls are supported and encouraged to study STEM-related disciplines,” said the young student. For the academic year 2023/2024, €3 million were allocated for more than 1,500 scholarships.

In addition to this engagement, the UN team also work with partners to organize activities that empower women and girls to challenge stereotypes and lead the digital revolution. This includes the “STEMinists” conference, an event that the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in Kosovo supported.

Learn more about this work of the UN in Kosovo team on the UN Women website.

South Africa: Shaping IT Careers through Community-Led Initiatives

Similarly, in South Africa, the African Girls Can Code Initiative, supported by the UN in South Africa, is reshaping career prospects for young women in the technology sector. Victoria Phago, an 18-year-old second-year Information and Communication Technology student, experienced a transformative shift when she joined the initiative. Through the programme,  she has now discovered a passion for software engineering and cybersecurity. 
“I see I can be innovative, design my things, and even become an entrepreneur,” says Victoria. 

Implemented by UN Women in partnership with the Departments of Higher Education and Training and Science and Innovation, and supported by the company Siemens and the Belgian Government, the programme exposes students to a wide range of information technology disciplines, including computer science, website development, mobile application development, robotics, and programming.

Beyond providing the girls with the right technical and vocational skills, the programme has also broadened their career perspectives, helping them overcome personal challenges, gaining confidence and fostering their empowerment.

Learn more on the UN in South Africa’s website.

Saudi Arabia: Advancing Women’s Careers through Digital Internships

In Saudi Arabia, UN teamis also prioritizing initiatives that enhance women’s employability and leadership in the sector. A pioneering public–private partnership between UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States and Nokia is opening new pathways for women in STEM. The Nokia Internship Programme, provides young women from universities with hands-on training and mentorship from industry experts. The eight-week programme equips them with technical skills and professional experience needed to excel in the digital economy.

“It is essential to show that women are just as qualified as men for any career, fostering a more inclusive and equitable work environment,” Intern Raghad Alskyhan says, “The internship has helped me clarify my career vision and understand the industry better.”

For years, deep-rooted social norms, lack of familial support and misplaced perceptions about women’s unsuitability for science have posed significant challenges to women who have been interested in STEM fields. Yet with a growing number of jobs in the sector combined with increased awareness, thanks to educational programmes such as these, more girls are seizing these opportunities to shape their own lives and those of their communities.

Learn more on UN Women’s website here.  

Bangladesh: Nurturing tomorrow’s midwives

In Bangladesh, a scholarship programme awarded by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is making it possible for indigenous girls in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region to obtain diplomas in healthcare in order to become capable midwives.

Funded by the Governments of Sweden and Canada, the Initiative is helping to bring accessible and quality maternal and reproductive healthcare for remote communities in the Hill Tracts. Language and cultural barriers, coupled with high educational costs, have resulted in very few health workers joining the workforce, thereby resulting in health facilities in the region becoming non-functional. 

This initiative, by supporting local girls to enroll in a medical education, goes beyond addressing immediate healthcare gaps. It establishes a foundation for lasting change prioritizing not just the health and well-being of women, but also their education and livelihoods.

Read more about this story on the UN in Bangladesh’s website.