Empowering Women Through Innovation and Technology

did you hear about the cool event that went down in Kazakhstan? It was the Generation Equality Regional Midpoint event, and it was all about boosting women’s economic empowerment through innovation and technology. The event brought together government reps, private sector bigwigs, youth activists, and more from countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. They all gathered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on November 15 to review progress and bolster existing commitments under UN Women’s global Generation Equality initiative.

The theme of the event was “Accelerating digitalization in Europe and Central Asia: Partnerships on innovation and technology for women’s economic empowerment.” It was organized by the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Regional Director a.i. of UN Women Europe and Central Asia, Gülden Türköz-Cosslett, expressed gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for co-convening the event and continuing to show leadership and dedication to the Generation Equality initiative.

The Vice Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry, Republic of Kazakhstan, Malik Olzhabekov, emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive digital landscape that empowers women and ensures equal opportunities. He highlighted the need for strategic partnerships and innovation to bridge the gaps and forge a future where digitalization becomes a powerful force for inclusivity and equality.

The event featured panels on reducing the digital gender gap and women and girls’ leadership in innovation ecosystems. Participants shared innovative solutions with the potential for scaling up throughout Europe and Central Asia, such as providing digital services to displaced women affected by the invasion of Ukraine and leveraging the potential of artificial intelligence in our post-COVID society.

Arbërie Nagavci, Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in Kosovo, talked about the youthful population in Kosovo and the efforts to prioritize government digitalization and align with the EU’s Digital Agenda 2030. His excellency Kestutis Jankauskas, Ambassador of the European Union to Kazakhstan, underscored the importance of considering gender equality in every aspect of development.

Emmanuelle Larroque, Founder and General Director of Social Builder, emphasized the importance of closing the gender gap in the digital world to achieve SDGs. The event also generated new commitments towards advancing gender equality through innovation and technology, with 15 new commitment makers being awarded for their dedication to the Generation Equality journey.

The event concluded with a study visit to the innovative collaborative space Smart Point, where local partners showcased digital projects, products, and solutions to advance gender equality, build resilient societies, safe and smart cities, and initiatives created by or for women and girls in the country.

Generation Equality is a global initiative committed to fast-tracking investments and actions for gender equality. Launched in 2021, it aims to address the most pressing challenges facing women and girls worldwide. The Generation Equality Regional Midpoint Event in Almaty represents a pivotal moment to reflect on the achievements thus far and chart a path forward, reinforcing the commitment of the global community towards realizing gender equality.

For media inquiries, contact Victoria Puiu at [ Click to reveal ]. Join the conversation by following @unwomeneca on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook and using the hashtag #GenerationEquality.