WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACCELERATOR WELCOMES ITU AS NEW UN PARTNER

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (Photo: Mary Kay Inc.)

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 -- A landmark McKinsey Global Institute report finds that US$12 trillion could be added to global GDP by 2025, if underserved women globally are given access to crucial digital skills education. (US$1 = RM4.184)

This alarming gap informed the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator’s (WEA) latest partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised agency of the United Nations for information and communication technologies. Together, WEA and ITU plan to bridge the digital gender divide.

Along with the support of Mary Kay, ITU and WEA will soon equip women entrepreneurs worldwide with the necessary digital skills for their own economic empowerment through a high-quality skills training programme.

In addition to the online modules, and in support of WEA, ITU and Mary Kay will also contribute to building a women empowerment ecosystem through the launch of an annual Innovation Challenge.

In a statement, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at ITU, Doreen Bogdan-Martin said: “ITU is thrilled to partner with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator to inspire, educate, and empower women entrepreneurs around the world.

“By working together to build digital skills and an ICT-enabled environment around these entrepreneurs, we can help women take their place as equal, skilled leaders in driving economic growth.”

The ‘Bridging the Digital Gender Divide’ initiative, which will be translated into several languages, will consist among others, 17 online modules on General Digital Skills training for young women and entrepreneurs in developing countries and least developed countries.

It also includes eight online modules on Digital Skills for Women Entrepreneurs in the Textiles and Apparel sector; and, four online modules on Management Skills for Women Entrepreneurs in Technology.

The project is unprecedented in its potential global reach. The focus of the training—on providing gender transformative digital skills for women entrepreneurs—will also contribute to ensuring inclusive societies and economies through Information and Communication Technologies.

The project will contribute to the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator by creating an enabling ecosystem for women entrepreneurs to thrive and advance inclusive and sustainable growth.

-- BERNAMA