UNIFEM Arab States Regional Office

1. UNIFEM Arab States Regional Office Achieving “E-Quality” in the ICT Sector UNIFEM/Cisco Gender ICT Initiative Youth Employment Summit Alexandria – Cairo 7–12 September 2002

2. about UNIFEM..

3. About UNIFEM Goals Strengthening Women’s Economic Security & Rights Empower women to enjoy secure livelihoods Engendering Governance And Leadership Increase women’s participation in decision-making Promoting Women’s Human Rights Eliminate all forms of VAW

4. About UNIFEM Strategy Leveraging political and financial support for women from a range of stakeholders in the development process Building an operational knowledge base to influence gender mainstreaming Building the capacity and leadership of women’s organizations and networks Undertaking pilot projects to test innovative approaches to women’s empowerment Forging new synergies and effective partnerships among women organizations, governments, UN system, and private sector

5. UNIFEMICT Program

6. UNIFEM IT Program Why ICT? • Integral part of economic activities & main employment generation sector. • Fastest growing communications medium in the history • Determinant of social and political interaction across regions • Digital dividing factor (DC/NDC, rich/poor, urban/rural, men/women) Increased global focus on ICT and Gender, highlighted the need to assess women’s position in the sector as users, professionals and policy makers.

7. UNIFEM IT Program UNIFEM ICT Strategy • ICT highlighted as a challenge to be addressed during UNIFEM’s 2000-2003 programming cycle. • UNIFEM signed MOU with UNDP & ITU. The agreement aims at increasing women’s access to ICT & guarantees incorporation in policy dialogue and decision making. • Partnership between UNIFEM, Cisco Foundation and Cisco Systems, Inc. aims to build women’s capabilities to gain access to high quality jobs. Goal is to achieve E-Quality by ensuring Connectivity, building Capacity, sensitizing Content & empowering women to benefit from various utilizations of ICT.

8. UNIFEM IT Program ICT Program Objectives 1.Create interactive networking resources encouraging Arab Women’s participation in the development of new content 2.Ensure women’s access to quality jobs in the ICT sector through building their capabilities and professional skills 3.Ensure women’s access to ICT through capacity building of intermediary organizations for delivery of IT services and training 4.Mainstream women in applications of ICT (e-commerce, training, advocacy, networking…etc.) 5.Carry out and design gender sensitive research on the sector and women’s participation and needs. 6. Sensitise ICT-related initiatives through disseminating guidelines on gender sensitive indicators

9. The ICT Sector in Jordan

10. The ICT Sector in Jordan Jordanian Women in the ICT Sector C H A L L E N G E S • ICT Market is gender segregated, although high percentage compared to other countries (30%), most are in the lower end of the value chain • Most female users are Email users(34% of Internet users are females, yet most are only email users)* • Most female professionals are in the low-paying and low-skill positions(women constitute 28% of the ICT labor force, distributed mainly in the software fields at 32% and data entry and help desk at 26.5% of female ICT workers)** • Women represent 31% of students enrolled in Computer Science and 12% in Computer Engineering*** • Very low percentage are decision/policy makers(less than 20%) *UNIFEM Field Research- Estimated Potential Internet Users – 2002 ** UNIFEM Field Research of ICT labor force 2002 ***UNIFEM Field Research of ICT Bsc. Degree students 2002

11. The ICT Sector in Jordan Jordanian Women in the ICT Sector S T A T I S T I C S • Private Sector (ICT Labor: 78% male, 22% Female) • Management position: Men 90% Women 10% • System Analysts: Men 81% Women 19% • Programmer: Men 78% Women 22% • Engineering: Men 95% Women 5% • Data Entry: Men 7% Women 93% • Public Sector (ICT Labor: 53% male, 47% Female) • Management position: Men 80% Women 20% • System Analysts: Men 60% Women 40% • Programmer: Men 50% Women 50% • Engineering: Men 87% Women 13% • Data Entry: Men 26% Women 74% 2001-2002 UNIFEM study; Distribution of men/women in private & public sectors

12. UNIFEM - Cisco Initiative Female Participation Obstacles • Illiteracy(no. 1 reason world wide) • English language • High cost of access • Restricted access to rural areas • Cultural inhibitions and restrictions • Gender-Blind policy

13. UNIFEM-Cisco Initiative “Achieving E-Quality in the ICT Sector”

14. UNIFEM - Cisco Initiative Main Objective • Executing Agency: UNIFEM • Implementing Agencies: MOE, MOHE, UNRWA, NIC, YWCA • Collaborating Agencies: GOJ, Cisco Systems, Cisco Foundation • Funding Agencies: Cisco Systems, Cisco Foundation, UNIFEM, GOJ To empower women in the ICT sector, through building their capabilities and professional skills, ensuring equal opportunities in regard to the ICT job market and securing a gender sensitive policy environment

15. UNIFEM - Cisco Initiative Beneficiaries • Jordan ICT sector • School students • Community college students • University students • NGOs • UN agencies • Women in local communities • General public

16. UNIFEM - Cisco Initiative Major Components Develop and disseminate an information base that reflects a gender analysis of opportunities and challenges in the ICT market and policy environment Research Positively affect IT policies and policy forums through systematic monitoring that highlights gender gaps, women’s potential contributions and participation Policy Establish gender focused Cisco Networking Academy Program (CNAP) through national institutions for the provision of high quality training for women Gender Focused CNAP Link CNAP graduates with local and regional ICT Job Market (Job placement program with both public and private sectors). Job Placement

17. UNIFEM - Cisco Initiative Gender and ICT Research • Comprehensive Research and market analyses, covering Jordan’s ICT sector and women/men’s locations as users, professionals, students and policy makers, was developed • Research includes Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment, Opportunities and Recommendations, It highlights Gaps and suggests Interventions • Research initial findings was fed into three task forces; Policy task force, Job Placement task force and CNAP task force • Research results and task forces’ action plans will be presented at the UNIFEM/Cisco “E-Quality in the ICT Sector” international summit, Amman – 14 & 15 October 2002.

18. UNIFEM - Cisco Initiative Policy Monitoring and Influencing • Policy Task force formulated to develop an action plan to: 1. Monitor and positively influence policies and policy forums, 2. Create regular communication with policy makers, 3. Formulate gender-sensitive recommendations and guidelines • Actions include; Advocacy activities, Awareness and Outreach activities, Networking activities and Mainstreaming activities • Recommendations include guidelines to: Establish gender equitable and locally relevant ICT programs and policies, Change the social and cultural stereotyping and believes through awareness campaigns and address issues of educational curricula • Policy action plan will be executed by UNIFEM in cooperation with government, private sector, UN agencies and NGOs. Action plan will be presented in E-Quality international summit

19. UNIFEM - Cisco Initiative Cisco Networking Academy Program • What is CNAP? • Where is it implemented? • How will it help graduates? • Major Activities include; Establishment of academies, TOT courses, Integration of CNAP courses, Database and tracking system, and Monitoring and Evaluation • CNAP Task force formulated to develop an action plan to: 1. Follow up and monitor operational CNAPs, 2. Establish more gender focused CNAPs in educational institutions, 3. Integrate the concept of gender sensitive approach when developing educational strategies • CNAP action plan will be executed by UNIFEM in cooperation with the MOE, MOHE and the private sector. Action plan will be presented in E-Quality international summit

21. UNIFEM - Cisco Initiative Job Placement Program • Workshops and training courses on market-required (soft) skills (creative thinking, communication, leadership, team building skills), in addition to gender training, are offered to all program participants • Job Placement Task force formulated to develop an action plan to: 1. Monitor ICT job market in terms of demand, 2. Identify channels for linking CNAP graduates to quality jobs, 3. Create regular communication with market key stakeholders, 4. Integrate women in ICT sector & insure access to high-profile positions • Recommendations and guidelines are formulated to act as the base for developing action plan for phase two of UNIFEM/Cisco gender ICT initiative • Action plan will be executed by UNIFEM in cooperation with both the public and private sectors. Plan will be presented in E-Quality international summit

23. UNIFEM/Cisco InitiativeJob Placement ProgramAction Plan

24. Job Placement Program UNIFEM/Cisco Initiative Main objective: To help females find jobs and gain access to high positions in the ICT sector through linking them with the job market and ensuring equal opportunities. Task Force Responsibilities: • Establish a mechanism to monitor ICT Job Market in terms of demand • Identify channels for linking CNAP graduates to quality jobs in the market • Develop a plan to create regular communications with market key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors • Define related jobs were young women can be functional • Develop a strategy to integrate women in the ICT sector and to insure women’s access to high profile positions in the markets • Establish a mechanism to continuously track women’s participation in the ICT job market.

25. Job Placement Program UNIFEM/Cisco Initiative • Suggested systematic actions: • Enhance Soft Skills: work on improving students’ market-required skills through conducting professional workshops • Offer Career Counseling: establish a career counseling body that would offer students professional career counseling services • Monitor ICT Job Market: monitor the market in terms of demand and women’s participation through carrying out a continuously market intelligence research • Market CNAP Graduates: increase market demand for CNAP graduates and raise gender awareness through conducting a focused promotional campaign and advocacy activities

26. Job Placement Program UNIFEM/Cisco Initiative Enhance students’ market-required (soft) skills through conducting capacity building and bridging training workshops • Evaluate and modify soft skills training package offered to students • Conduct training programs for councilors and instructors • Conduct more gender awareness workshops (Students and Employers) • Start a tele-working flexible hours and part-time pilot project with IT company in the private sector • Discuss with MOICT internship initiative and establish an internship program with the private sector

27. Job Placement Program UNIFEM/Cisco Initiative Offer career counseling services for students through the establishment of a career counseling office which will identify channels for linking CNAP graduates to quality jobs in the ICT market • Hire expert consultant • Analyze market research in coordination with stake holders • Device plan for setting up the office including recruiting & training female manager; preparing a document outlining the office responsibilities; identifying ownership structure • Set up according to plan

28. Job Placement Program UNIFEM/Cisco Initiative Monitor ICT Job market in terms of demand and women’s participation through carrying out a continuously market intelligence research • Hire a specialized market research company • Produce two market research plans for Domestic & International markets • Establish focus groups preferably by the research company • Distribute a comprehensive questionnaire • Establish and update database • Connect with existing counseling offices

29. Job Placement Program UNIFEM/Cisco Initiative Market CNAP graduates and increase market demand and gender awareness through conducting a focused promotional campaign • Networking activities to promote CNAP program • Promotional campaign to create awareness on ICT and gender for development • Prepare for national forum • Conduct Road Show nationwide • Introduce female role models, entrepreneurs and success stories

30. Job Placement Program UNIFEM/Cisco Initiative Recommendations and Future Guidelines • Advocate integration of “Soft Skills” within the MOE educational curriculum • Gender-Sensitize MOE curriculum • Modify relevant laws to allow teachers and professors work freely • Include gender counseling within career counseling centers. • Advocate formulation of gender-sensitive policies • Identify “CNAP Body” ownership structure; define members and communications channels

31. UNIFEM - Cisco Initiative Impact • Women are equipped with professional ICT skills and are capable of participating and gaining higher positions in the ICT sector • Digital gap narrowed through assuring equal access to ICT benefits and opportunities in regard to ICT market • Comprehensive gender statistics related to the ICT field available and disseminated • Formulation of gender sensitive legislations and policies related to ICT sector • Increased awareness on gender needs in ICT sector

32. Summary ICT has become a major force for changing social, economical and political life. However, ICT is becoming a “Digital Divider” between those who have access to technology and those who do not. Women, especially women in developing countries, are the most effected segment. Yet, with enough awareness, IT could become an opportunity for growth, empowerment and gender equality rather than a gender divider.