EU launches initiative to promote women’s leadership in public ICT sector
A new EU-backed programme aims to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in public digital policy and ICT governance worldwide.
The European Union and its member states have launched a new global initiative to support women’s leadership in the public information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
The initiative aims to increase the role of women in shaping digital policies, particularly within public institutions. It focuses on enabling women leaders to contribute to policy development, act as role models, and support more inclusive digital transformation processes.
According to the European Commission, women remain underrepresented in digital and leadership positions in the public sector. This gap is seen as a barrier to developing policies that reflect the needs of different groups in society.
The programme is structured around three main areas. These include building the capacity of decision-makers to integrate gender equality into digital policies, improving access to education in science and technology fields for women and girls, and addressing technology-related gender-based violence.
The initiative has a budget of over €15 million and is co-funded by several EU member states, including France, Estonia, Germany, Belgium, and Latvia. It is coordinated by Expertise France and implemented by a consortium of agencies from multiple EU countries.
The launch event also marked the beginning of preparations for the next EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in External Action, covering the period from 2028 to 2034, with a public consultation process opened to stakeholders.
