📋 Tender Overview
PROJECT ID
110734
TOTAL FUNDING
CAD 1,993,900.00
PROJECT STATUS
Active
DURATION
42 months
Summary
Persistent gender disparities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) continue to hinder inclusive development, particularly in the Global South. Despite rising female enrolment in higher education, women remain underrepresented in STEM careers and leadership roles, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Globally, women constitute only a third of researchers, and in many countries, they account for less than a quarter of STEM graduates. In sub-Saharan Africa, women make up just 31.5% of researchers, while in South and West Asia, the figure is even lower, at 26%. These disparities reflect systemic barriers that require coordinated, evidence-based and context-sensitive changes.
UNESCO’s Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) will work at the national level to establish platforms. The goal is to co-design gender-transformative policies, collect and apply gender-disaggregated data and pilot leadership and mentoring programs. This is especially critical to decrease dropout rates and help women transition into the workforce. At the global level, UNESCO’s Gender Equality in Science Team plans to synthesize institutional best practices, facilitate peer learning among higher education institutions and engage decision-makers through inclusive science policy dialogue.
This project addresses the critical gap in institutional and policy-level support for women in STEM by fostering inclusive STEM systems and mobilizing best practices to transform science institutions. Aligned with the 2024 UNESCO Call to Action Closing the Gender Gap in Science , and IDRC’s Breaking Barriers Network, this initiative aims to develop scalable models that promote gender equality.
The project will generate and disseminate knowledge, strengthen research uptake through consultation and produce tailored outputs to drive institutional reform. It will also enhance the use of evidence in shaping gender equality interventions in science, technology and innovation systems, including national science granting councils.
The project is expected to improve institutional support for women in STEM, increase leadership opportunities for marginalized groups, develop stronger data frameworks and expand networks for collaboration. By integrating local innovation with the global level of mobilization, the project intends to contribute to systemic change in science systems, making them more inclusive, resilient and responsive to the needs of diverse communities.
