1 Aurora A. Rubio Head, ITU Area Office for South East Asia A Bright Future in ICT Opportunities for a New Generation of Women World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) Celebration 17 May 2012, Bangkok Thailand

The UN Millennium Declaration Resolved, among others To promote gender equality and empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable. To develop and implement strategies that give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent and productive work Equality for women and girls is not only a basic human right it is a social and economic imperative. Where women are educated and empowered, economies are more productive and strong. Where women are fully represented, societies are more peaceful and stable UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon

A Bright Future in ICT Opportunities for a New Generation of Women

Key Findings (1) Employment in the ICT sector continues to grow significantly The growth has not led to a parallel increase in womens presence in the ICT labour market, Male-female gap being particularly pronounced at senior levels Declining womens employment figures in advanced economies in comparison to sector growth Issue is not just an entry level problem but also one of demotivation, of retention and/or promotion of women within the sector at many levels

Key Findings (2) Perception in many countries that the ICT sector is a male- dominated industry Males dominate most high-value and income jobs in the ICT sector Classical cases of vertical gender segregation Room for significant improvement in the number of women holding leadership positions at board and senior management levels.

Why we need to engage women Closing the male-female employment gap is good for economic growth For example, in the Asia and Pacific Region, restricting job opportunities for women is costing the region between USD 42 and USD 46 billion a year Similar restrictions have imposed massive costs in the Arab States (Source: World Bank) Countries that are role models in dividing resources equitably between women and men, regardless of their level of resources, fare better than those that do not (Source: World Economic Forum)

Why we need to engage women (2) Engaging women and girls in ICT sector work is not only the right thing to do from the point of social justice. It is also smart economics. Direct positive correlation between gender diversity on top leadership teams and a companys financial results. More diverse teams make better informed decisions, leading to less risk-taking and more successful outcomes for companies. A nations ICT competitiveness depends significantly on whether and how it educates and utilizes its female skills.

Preparing Women and Girls for the future Workforce Human talent with the right skill sets: key for the building of a vibrant and diversified ICT sector Building and training of non-discriminatory human capital primarily in universities, R&D centers and trade or applied schools to respond to the evolving ICT industry. Training and support at all levels of career National reassessment of educational infrastructure and delivery systems Shift of mindsets (parents, teachers, career guidance councilors and recruiters) to acknowledge that ICT careers are an important and viable opportunity for girls Women in the ICT sector Paying Forward

Expanding Horizons: Education with Multi-Sectoral Support Premium on promoting ICT skills in primary, secondary and higher education Shift from traditional ICT occupations towards business/ICT specialists, highly specialized ICT areas and multidisciplinary ICT occupations; Reassessing current education systems and infrastructure More relevant instruction- combining industry, science and the arts in curricula Shift from individualistic learning to hands-on, team-work and problem- solving teaching methods; Continuing learning on evolving nature of the knowledge economy More funds or subsidies for technical training and incubation programs

The Future of the ICT Job Market Demand for technology jobs has steadily increased New applications and services expected to drive demand from businesses, households and governments Additional ICT growth expected to come from green growth through smart applications in buildings, transport, energy, and production Emergence of hybrid jobs ICT employment opportunities for women in the post 2008 global economic and finance crash era include high-speed internet, cloud computing, green ICT goods and services and their smart applications

Report Conclusions Range of initiatives already underway to support girls and women in the ICT sector as more governments recognize the importance and necessity of taking these deliberate steps The most important determinant of a countrys competitiveness is its human capital and talent - the skills, education and productivity of its workforce. Closing gender gaps not only a matter of human rights and equity; it is also one of efficiency and economic productivity Skills need to be seen as a key part of an economys infrastructure Promoting practices and policies on removal of barriers to womens entry to and rising to positions of leadership within the ICT sector

Fora, Workshops and other Events Toolkits of Best Practices and Policy Advice ITU Gender Initiatives For more information, please visit Training Materials, Applications and Tools

13 ITU : ITU Asia Pacific : I Thank U