Our Promise to #ActForEqual

Announcing the EQUALS Global Partnership #GenerationEquality commitments

In 2021, something truly remarkable is happening on the global road to gender equality. The Generation Equality Forum, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France, has brought together partners from all over the world, each committing to specific actions designed to make immediate, irreversible progress toward gender equality.

The Forum kicked off in Mexico City in March 2021 and has culminated in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2021. Participants include civil society, governments, feminist leaders, and change-makers from every sector, as well as—crucially important—youth, whose future is being shaped by these actions. With the Forum as a launchpad, Generation Equality will start a five-year action journey led by six Action Coalitions and a Compact on Women, Peace and Security, and Humanitarian Action.

Why do we need to #ActForEqual? Watch and find out:

OUR COMMITMENTS

We as the EQUALS Global Partnership cannot miss this opportunity. Thanks to our partners, we are proud to announce our collective commitments as part of the 2021 Generation Equality Forum in Paris.

EQUALS PARTNERSHIP COMMITMENT 1

Her Digital Skills

Under the EQUALS Digital Skills Badges project coordinated by ITU and funded by W4 with in-kind contributions from the GSMA and EY, EQUALS has agreed to a collective commitment to Generation Equality to improve digital skills for girls and women. Our digital skills gender equality commitment:

We will design and provide access to free, gender-transformative, foundational IT skills training and e-mentoring for one million women and girls by 2026 via the program HER DIGITAL SKILLS INITIATIVE powered by the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age.

Her Digital Skills powered by EQUALS will include:

• Basic introduction to the technical knowledge and education needed for careers in technology through hands-on Tech4Girls workshops

• Access to free, adapted (gender-transformative), foundational IT skills training through a committed online platform

• An EQUALS qualification (“the Digital Badge”) which will boost women’s chances of pursuing further training/studies and access to formal employment in the ICT sector

• An e-mentoring programme connecting established companies from among the tech and mobile industries to young women to increase interest, involvement, and awareness of the overall role of industry in bridging the gender gap in leadership

The overarching goal of this program is to increase the talent pipeline of girls and young women in STEM/STEAM leading to employment and/or internship opportunities.

EQUALS PARTNERSHIP COMMITMENT 2

Tech Sector Leadership

As founding EQUALS partners, UN Women, ITC and ITU will apply their expert leadership in gender digital equality action to make the following commitment on behalf of the EQUALS Global Partnership. Our technology sector leadership gender equality commitment:

Increase the visibility, business and digital skills, mentoring and networking opportunities for 10,000 women leaders and entrepreneurs in the technology sector by 2026, powered by the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age.

This commitment includes:

• Access to free courses to increase the competitiveness of their businesses and to be up to speed on the latest developments in technology and innovation (via such platforms as SheTrades, WEPs Learning Hub, and ITU Academy).

• The development of platforms (i.e. events, forums) to facilitate networking and mentoring of women entrepreneurs in technology.

• Organizing of high-level advocacy events to boost the visibility and importance of women-in tech in developing countries through the provision of speaking opportunities and collective action.

• Informing and training organizations and employees about the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and their importance in applying the gender responsive policies in the workplace, marketplace and communities.

Our Generation Equality commitments, and all the other goals and work of EQUALS partners, reflect our unwavering promise to devote our energy and resources, together as a partnership, toward bridging the gender digital divide.

Stereotypes and a lack of access to tech and digital literacy continue to hold girls back from STEM interests and careers. The Generation Equality Forum Action Coalition on Technology & Innovation for Gender Equality aims to close the gender digital divide across generations, helping girls and women build bright digital futures.

What can you do to #ActForEqual?

You can join the movement! Take action to be a part of #GenerationEquality today!

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• Find out more about #GenerationEquality and the Generation Equality Forum

• Learn about the Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality and its plan for a gender-diverse digital reset