Girls in ICT Day 2026 Arab World Edition
AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future
BACKGROUND
Girls in ICT Day is a Global ITU initiative launched in 2011, has been celebrated up to now in 175+ countries to encourage girls' and young women engagement in STEM career and participation in ICT.
As digital transformation continues to accelerate globally, ensuring that its benefits are shared equitably remains an important priority. In the Arab region, notable progress has been achieved in advancing gender parity in some countries, reflecting strong commitment and momentum.
At the same time, opportunities remain to further close the gap across the region. Current estimates indicate that internet usage among women stands at 56%, compared to 68% for men, highlighting a 12-percentage point difference and underscoring the potential to unlock greater economic participation and social inclusion through continued efforts.
The Arab States office will celebrate the Girls in ICT Day 2026 under ITU's global theme AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future. AI is reshaping education, jobs, and digital participation. By transitioning from digital consumers to AI creators, girls in the Arab world can command high-value roles in data science and ethical governance, effectively closing the "skills mismatch" in the regional workforce.
Arab States 2026: A Regional Approach
This year, the ITU Regional Office for the Arab States is moving beyond isolated national events toward a coordinated Regional Collective Implementation Plan across all 22 Arab States. Our objective is to move from national activities to a unified regional mobilisation, empowering and inspiring the next generation of girls to be leaders and creators of AI technologies.
To support Member States in this mission, we are providing a series of Technical Assistance webinars designed to train organisers in digital inclusion and provide guidance on national activities that align with our shared regional vision.
Mark Your Calendars: Key Dates
1. Regional Virtual Events (For Girls and Organisers) on Zoom
The core of our celebration consists of three regional virtual events hosted on Zoom, conducted in different languages to ensure regional inclusivity:
- Arabic Session: 20 April 2026 (10:00 – 11:30 Cairo Time).
2. Celebration in Countries
Morocco: 22 to 24 April 2026
We will celebrate Girls in ICT Day 2026 in Morocco through two dedicated sessions on 22 and 24 April 2026 in Salé and Rabat. The sessions will take place at the Horizons Ouverts Centre in Sidi Abdellah (Salé) and the Institut Spécialisé de Technologie Appliquée in Hay Riyad (Rabat), with each session lasting 2.5 hours, either in the morning or afternoon depending on availability.
The event will engage over 125 young women aged approximately 18 to 22, coming from academic institutes and pursuing or building careers in the digital field. The sessions will be delivered in Arabic and French by trainers from the Women in AI network, combining introductory discussions on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity awareness, and interactive exchanges with role models from the digital sector.
Co-led with the Agence de Developpement du Digital, the programme will also include presentations on national digital learning opportunities, including AI-related courses and the Morocco Digital Strategy 2030, alongside contributions from host organisations.
Comoros: 28, 29, 30 April 2026
We will celebrate Girls in ICT Day 2026 in Comoros over three days, from 28 to 30 April, in Moroni at the National Assembly (tbc), from 10:00 to 16:00 each day. The event will bring together approximately 270 girls across the three days, with 90 participants per age group, combining in-person sessions and online participation across the three islands.
Each day will focus on a specific age group: 6–10 years on 28 April, 11–14 years on 29 April, and 15–18 years on 30 April, engaging girls from primary and secondary schools. The programme will include interactive workshops on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, alongside inspirational exchanges with role models.
Co-Led with the Ministry of ICT, the event will be held in French and organised in collaboration with national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Gender.
Tunisia: 9 and 10 May 2026
We will celebrate Girls in ICT Day 2026 in Tunisia over three days, from 8 to 10 May 2026, in Tunis at the National Centre of Informatics for Children. The sessions will take place on Friday and Saturday afternoons (14:00–17:00) and Sunday morning (10:00–13:30).
The event will bring together between 45 and 60 girls, organised in small groups of 15 to 20 participants, from primary, middle, and secondary school levels from age 6 to 18. Sessions will be conducted in Tunisian Arabic and French.
The programme will include interactive introductions to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, along with discussions, Q&A sessions, and an exchange with a role model to inspire participants and help them reflect on their future pathways in the digital world.
3. Technical Assistance Webinars (For National Organisers)
We are hosting a series of weekly regional webinars to support national organisers through every stage of planning and implementation.
Technical Assistance Webinars
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| Information Session | 1 April 2026 (13:00 – 14:30 Cairo Time). |
| First Webinar (Learning & Working Session) | 6 April 2026 (13:00 – 14:30 Cairo Time). |
| Second Webinar (Learning & Working Session) | 14 April 2026 (13:00 – 14:30 Cairo Time).
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| Regional Celebrations of National Organisers | 4 May 2026 (13:00 – 14:30 Cairo Time).
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Contact: Ms. Khadija Hamouchi, Programme Administrator, ITU Regional Office for the Arab States Email: khadija.hamouchi@itu.int.
