On September 11, 2024, as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, the Women’s Forum of the SCO was held, focusing on the theme “Empowering Women Economically through Digitalization.” Kazakhstan was represented by two distinguished participants: Alina Abdrakhmanova, a member of the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Elena Sedykh, Chairwoman of the Strategic Committee of the NGO TechnoWomen.
Key discussions at the forum centered around the role of women in sustainable development, gender balance in the economy, and the need for deeper involvement of women in digital transformation and the IT sector.
Alina Abdrakhmanova highlighted the importance of equal access to education for women, providing statistical insights: “According to USAID, GDP increases by an average of 3% when 10% more girls attend school. Educated girls reinvest 90% of their future earnings into their families, whereas boys reinvest only 35%. Research shows that strengthening social protection for girls from low-income families and supporting them in obtaining educational loans for higher education are key factors in fostering more stable and sustainable societies in the medium term. Therefore, large-scale investments are needed not only in education itself but also in removing all obstacles that hinder girls' rights and opportunities, from child and early forced marriages to violence and early pregnancies,” said Alina Abdrakhmanova.
Additionally, joint projects between the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy and Astana Hub, TechnoWomen are aimed at expanding women’s economic opportunities through digitalization. One such initiative is the IT-Aiel 2.0 program, which provides free training for women in Central Asia in areas such as No Code programming, e-commerce, and digital skills. The goal of the program is to increase women’s participation in technology and IT, improve their position in the labor market, and expand their economic prospects.
Another project, TechGirls, focuses on training young women in IT specialties. As part of this project, girls aged 16 to 23 receive education in No Code, Low Code, and Beta Career fields, with opportunities to create their own IT products and intern at leading IT companies.
These projects contribute to enhancing women's digital skills and active participation in economic life, serving as an important part of the strategy to promote gender equality and digital transformation.
Key discussions at the forum centered around the role of women in sustainable development, gender balance in the economy, and the need for deeper involvement of women in digital transformation and the IT sector.
Alina Abdrakhmanova highlighted the importance of equal access to education for women, providing statistical insights: “According to USAID, GDP increases by an average of 3% when 10% more girls attend school. Educated girls reinvest 90% of their future earnings into their families, whereas boys reinvest only 35%. Research shows that strengthening social protection for girls from low-income families and supporting them in obtaining educational loans for higher education are key factors in fostering more stable and sustainable societies in the medium term. Therefore, large-scale investments are needed not only in education itself but also in removing all obstacles that hinder girls' rights and opportunities, from child and early forced marriages to violence and early pregnancies,” said Alina Abdrakhmanova.
Additionally, joint projects between the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy and Astana Hub, TechnoWomen are aimed at expanding women’s economic opportunities through digitalization. One such initiative is the IT-Aiel 2.0 program, which provides free training for women in Central Asia in areas such as No Code programming, e-commerce, and digital skills. The goal of the program is to increase women’s participation in technology and IT, improve their position in the labor market, and expand their economic prospects.
Another project, TechGirls, focuses on training young women in IT specialties. As part of this project, girls aged 16 to 23 receive education in No Code, Low Code, and Beta Career fields, with opportunities to create their own IT products and intern at leading IT companies.
These projects contribute to enhancing women's digital skills and active participation in economic life, serving as an important part of the strategy to promote gender equality and digital transformation.