Supporting digital security for girls and women

Project developed by

 

Women and girls are far behind men in being able to take advantage of technology opportunities.
Why we care: Women and girls lack access to technology and entering tech-oriented careers because of stereotypes and discrimination.
How we’re solving this: Empowering women’s rights organizations to use technology to advance human rights and security for women and girls.

In a report by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) in 2000, the ratio of male Internet users to female, in India, was 77:23. Studies show that globally, there are low levels of women’s usage of, participation in, and awareness of technology. This is just one example of how women and girls are far behind men in being able to take advantage of technology opportunities.

The Global Fund for Women (GFW) supports women’s rights organizations in their work on digital literacy and digital security. GFW aims to protect women from gender-based violence by giving them the skills to use mobile technology and employ digital storytelling. By supporting women-led organizations that provide mentoring, leadership skills training, and advocacy for women’s rights, women and girls will gain confidence to use technology. Particularly after humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters, technology will aid women to access health services, and hasten their overall recovery. This focus on digital security supports women’s rights organizations seeking to enhance their technological infrastructure and knowledge, develop databases to track and report on what is happening in relation to human rights abuses and to establish cell based emergency response networks to ensure rapid assistance when a woman or girl is in danger.
Additionally, our initiative takes a holistic approach to addressing challenges women and girls face in pursuing and succeeding in Information Communication Technology (ICT) careers in developing countries. We are targeting the critical need to build a pipeline of women and girls entering into ICT and to enhance retention and advancement of women currently studying and working in ICT. Working with public and private sector partners, we will leverage results—proven strategies, knowledge—sharing the pooled resources to achieve the highest impact for women and girls.
Our initiative will offer sustainable tech training, networking and mentorship, using a three-pronged approach:

1. Engage and encourage young women and girls’ interest in, and pursuit of, ICT careers
2. Retain and advance women in ICTS fields of study and careers
3. Connect and support professional women to reach new levels of achievement in ICT   

Our initiative will enable the following:

• Raise awareness among young girls of career opportunities and women role models in ICT through hands-on activities.
• Improve enrollment and address retention for young women studying ICT at the university level by offering scholarships, tech skills-building courses, internships and job opportunities.
• Address skills gap by co-hosting “tech boot-camps” for recent university graduates entering the job market.
• Prepare the next generation of women role models through leadership and professional development.
• Develop new linkages with local and virtual partners  to  create  robust  mentoring programs.
• Convene participants through strategic global and regional networks, salons and convenings.
• Engage corporations, NGOs, academia, and social enterprises to provide internship and job opportunities.

*Program Administration expenses are directly related to GFW's grantmaking program, which includes personnel, due diligence, and convenings/travel.
** Indirect costs are expenses associated with the operation and maintenance of GFW's facilities, such as rent and telecommunications, as well as general administrative expenses, such as accounting.