Gender equality in science, technology and innovation
Lack of gender equality in science also limits scientific progress and hamstrings a country鈥檚 development and its efforts to build peaceful societies. Yet, today, only one in three scientific researchers is a woman - a ratio that has demonstrated minimal variation over the past decade - and this proportion declines at the upper levels of scientific hierarchies.
Not only does the gender gap differs across scientific disciplines, but also between countries, suggesting that a country鈥檚 wealth does not necessarily correlate with success in achieving gender parity in science. However, not all countries possess reliable data, which limits reporting on the extent of gender gap in science.
The percentage of women scientists varies by region. According to the latest data from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, this ranges from:
| Region | percentage |
|---|---|
| South and West Asia | 26 |
| East Asia and the Pacific | 27% |
| sub-Saharan Africa | 32% |
| Western Europe | 34% |
| Central and Eastern Europe | 39% |
| Arab States | 41% |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | 44% |
| Central Asia | 50% |
UNESCO鈥檚 work to advance gender equality in STI
To advance gender equality in and through science technology and innovation, UNESCO supports Member states in the following areas:
- Data collection and analysis on women's participation in STI.
- Knowledge-sharing activities to identify best practices.
- Collaboration with partners to develop initiatives.
- Advocacy and awareness-raising.
- Capacity-building and training for women in STI.
UNESCO Call to Action 鈥淐losing the Gender Gap in Science鈥
This Call to Action identifies the root causes of gender-based inequalities in science and calls for concerted multistakeholder action in all sectors, in order to ensure that girls are encouraged to pursue their scientific dreams without reservation and that meaningful careers await those who take this path.
L鈥橭r茅al-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme
A flagship initiative to recognize and support women in science at different stages of their careers.
Over 4,100 women scientists from more than 110 countries have been recognised through the L'Or茅al-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme since 1998.
Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) is the first international forum to unite eminent women scientists from the developing and developed worlds with the objective of strengthening their role in the development process and promoting their representation in scientific and technological leadership.
OWSD provides research training, career development and networking opportunities for women scientists throughout the developing world at different stages in their careers.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
This Day aims to unite the international community in emphasising the need for gender equality in science to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Each year, events are organized worldwide to celebrate the remarkable contributions of girls and women in science, as well as to raise awareness that science and gender equality must advance hand-in-hand to address the world鈥檚 major challenges.
STEM and Gender Advancement (SAGA) tools
UNESCO Chairs/Networks on Gender in STI
Through the establishment of UNESCO chairs and UNITWIN Networks, UNESCO promotes international inter-university cooperation and networking in the field of gender in science, technology and innovation.
| Chairs/Network | Country |
|---|---|
| Spain | |
| Sudan | |
| Egypt | |
| France | |
| Peru | |
| Argentina | |
| Argentina | |
| Chaire UNESCO 芦 Femmes et sciences pour le d茅veloppement 禄 | Haiti |
| Spain |
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Resources
Excerpt from the UNESCO Science Report
