Breaking barriers: UNIDO report explores gender and digital transformation

A United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) report, in collaboration with Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy and the Western Norway Research Institute, has been launched at a UN High-Level Political Forum side event on Sustainable Development 2023 in New York.

The report: Gender, digital transformation and artificial intelligence provides a framework to address gender bias and stereotypes that hinder the participation of women as users, learners, and developers of digital technologies.

Based on the review of more than 150 initiatives across five geographical regions, it offers recommendations on the priorities and entry points to further advance gender equality and women empowerment in the context of digital transformation.

Lead author, Dr Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete, Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy, said:

“I hope this report inspires organisations across different sectors to take action and ensure a gender-inclusive digital transformation where both men and women contribute and benefit equally from the opportunities presented by digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence. We are glad to have contributed to this report led by UNIDO, together with colleagues from the Western Norway Research Institute and the University of Lausanne.”

Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization said:

“The digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) hold the promise for almost everything we can dream of. Yet, even today, we can see that technology development is strongly biased against women and disadvantaged groups. We must not accept that! The gender perspective must take center stage in our thinking, planning and implementation of digital transformation and AI. In this background paper, UNIDO proposes actions we can take, and with this starting point, I hope we can raise the issues and start eliminating them.”

Download the report