Objectives
Science, technology, and innovation (STI) can significantly contribute to achieving internationally recognized development goals.
However, to promote equitable and sustainable development, it is essential to consider the goals, concerns, situations, and capabilities of both women and men when creating STI policies. In other words, a “gender lens” should be applied in the policy-making process for STI.
UNCTAD advocates for applying a "Gender lens" through:
- Science for women: Developing technology that supports women's livelihood activities (e.g., in agriculture, water, energy).
- Women in science: Promoting gender parity in education, research, and leadership in science and technology.
- Women in innovation: Encouraging women's participation in innovation systems at local and national levels.
Through these initiatives, UNCTAD aims to reduce poverty and enhance the role of women in the digital and scientific economy.
"Pursuing gender-sensitive science, technology and innovation policies is not only a human development issue - it is also smart economics"
UNCTAD (2011)
Related
Areas of work
- Interagency Task Team (IATT): UNCTAD is a key member of the UN IATT Gender and STI Workstream, which coordinates gender-responsive STI initiatives across more than 15 UN entities.
- Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD): UNCTAD serves as the secretariat for the CSTD, which has made gender a priority for decades.
- Gender Advisory Board (GAB): This expert body advises the CSTD on mainstreaming gender into STI policies.
- Women in STEM: Changing the narrative
