P2C Flash Edition 07

Women’s WorldWide Web (W4): She Can Digital: Women in tech & women’s tech-based social entrepreneurship 

Women’s WorldWide Web (W4) is a non-profit development organization and Europe’s first online crowdfunding platform, aiming to promote girls’ and women’s empowerment worldwide, in cities and rural areas, in both developing and developed countries. W4 has pledged USD 1 million to advance digital inclusion and empower women and girls through technology across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.  

The initiative “She Can Digital: Women in Tech & Women’s Tech-Based Social Entrepreneurship” combines advanced IT training with social entrepreneurship development. Since its launch in early 2023, the program has successfully piloted a new digital incubation model and helped shape a gender-transformative framework for digital skills education. More than 50,000 women have benefited, enabling them to gain access to formal employment/launch sustainable tech-driven enterprises, and become catalysts for change within their communities. For more information: Women’s WorldWide Web (W4). 

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ): Her CyberTracks project    

The Her CyberTracks Initiative aims to promote women’s equal, full, and meaningful representation in cybersecurity for a more resilient cyberspace for all. Jointly implemented by ITU and GIZ, and funded by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office and the European Union, the project supports ITU’s broader mission to bridge the gender digital divide and advance secure, inclusive ICTs for sustainable development. 

Her CyberTracks project offers a holistic learning experience, combining three CyberTracks with online and hands-on training, mentorship from senior women leaders, networking opportunities, and exposure to inspiring role models.  In its 2023 pilot edition, Her CyberTracks focused on Cyberpolicy and Cyberdiplomacy, as they are crucial topics both nationally and internationally due to the growing dependence on digital technologies and increased cyber risks.


The meaningful representation of women in cybersecurity policymaking is key to establishing inclusive international cybersecurity norms and national policies. It engaged 101 participants from 29 countries, including West Africa, the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, and Ukraine. 93% of the participants expressed high satisfaction. The initiative has strengthened regional cooperation and amplified the voices of women in the digital space. In 2024, an additional 106 mentees joined the Her CyberTracks alumni. Over time, Her CyberTracks has evolved into a three-track initiative, providing strong tracks in Policy & Diplomacy, Incident Response, and Criminal Justice, which is co-implemented by the UNODC. In 2025, the Incident Response Track of Her CyberTracks will also be implemented for the first time in Latin America and the Caribbean in cooperation with the Latin America and Caribbean Cyber Competence Centre (LAC4).   

Beijing International Exchange Association: Female Sci-Tech Talent Capacity Building Center  

The Beijing International Exchange Association (BIEA) pledged to empower at least 1,000 women globally to unlock or accelerate their careers in science, technology, and innovation through its Female Sci-Tech Talent Capacity Building Center. This initiative, launched with partners from Brazil, Canada, Croatia, and Portugal, offers a range of activities including seminars, salons, workshops, and lectures that promote gender equality and enhance technical skills.

With an estimated investment of USD 150,000, the project aims to expand its reach and impact by partnering with public and private actors worldwide, making sci-tech learning more accessible, especially for vulnerable women. In 2023, the establishment of a sister center in Brazil by BIEA’s partner Anprotec proved the initiative’s scalability and global relevance.

To address challenges in reaching remote or underserved groups, BIEA is strengthening its social media outreach and forging new international partnerships. The project progress is measured through beneficiary numbers and feedback, with annual reviews guiding improvements. BIEA is committed to growing this platform and building a more inclusive digital future for women.   

Austrian Development Agency: Resilience through Digitalization in Vietnam 

In Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, communities face increasing risks from extreme weather and natural disasters, yet critical tools like automatic rain gauges and early warning systems are missing. Meanwhile, many vulnerable groups, including ethnic minorities, lack the knowledge and resources to adapt their farming practices to a changing climate. With limited access to digital tools, quality inputs, and microfinance, their productivity remains low, and access to markets is restricted, resulting in families with insufficient income to meet basic needs and support their children’s well-being.  To tackle these challenges, the Austrian Development Agency is investing over USD 622,000 in its innovative “Resilience through Digitalization” project, which aims to provide 15,300 residents with access to technology at every stage of rural development. 

The project operates through four interconnected workstreams that embed digital tools into disaster risk management, sustainable production, business planning, and market access. By combining technology, training, and connectivity, the initiative builds capacity among target households and producer groups to adapt to climate risks, modernise production practices, and leverage digital connectivity for e-commerce and economic inclusion.

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions: Geolocating Libraries to Boost Global Connectivity 

Across the globe, public libraries are vital community anchors, but many remain digitally invisible. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is changing that by mapping the locations and connectivity status of libraries in under-connected regions. Through its advocacy pledge to the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, IFLA is investing USD 40,000 to gather geolocation data from public libraries and piloting the project in the following countries: Cameroon, Nigeria, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, Iraq, Lebanon, and Chile. 

The project aims to document libraries’ digital infrastructure, internet access, and challenges, enabling these spaces to connect more communities with the digital world. The resulting data will directly support the ITU-UNICEF GIGA initiative, expanding its scope beyond schools to include libraries as community access points for connectivity and lifelong learning. IFLA is also working with a website concept development company to design the website layout to host the final data. Through this initiative, IFLA is transforming libraries into digital inclusion and education engines. For more information: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. 

Spain’s Assistance to Ukraine through EU4DigitalUA 

Since 2020, the European Union has been supporting Ukraine’s digital transformation through the EU4DigitalUA project, a EUR 10 million initiative implemented by the Foundation for the Internationalization of Public Administrations (FIAP). The project focuses on digital governance and institutional strengthening, data protection, and the development and promotion of public e-services. 

As part of a broader European Union effort, this initiative reflects Spain’s direct commitment to advancing Ukraine’s digital future. In partnership with Ukrainian institutions, EU4DigitalUA supports Ukraine’s digital transformation by aligning national legislation with EU standards and contributing to the country’s integration into the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). The project backs key reforms, including the launch of the Unified National Informatization System (NPI) to coordinate digital projects, the ePermit system for digitalised permits, and educational programmes such as CDTO Campus.

EU4DigitalUA plays a strategic role in communications, assisting the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine in developing and implementing communication strategies, training staff, conducting public opinion research, and designing promotional campaigns for services like e-Entrepreneur, e-Resident, and Diia.Signature. It also supported the launch of the Diia Integration and led promotional efforts for Diia Summits’ international conferences, reaching a total of over 8 million people. Learn more here.