The AI Forward Alliance: Bridging the gender-based digital divide

Technovation, a global tech education and empowerment non-profit, has launched The AI Forward Alliance. With women accounting for just 22% of AI workers globally, this first-of-its-kind collaborative effort aims to create a generation of female leaders and innovators capable of tackling complex global challenges through unique skill sets and digitally native innovation.

With a focus on 16 countries to start, The AI Forward Alliance looks to impact 25 million young women future-shapers through skilling, empowering them with capabilities spanning real-world problem-solving, complex systems thinking, data science and machine learning.

Technovation boasts a robust roster of funders and partner organisations as part of its efforts to expedite innovation through the untapped potential of girls and young women. Network and community partners include UNICEF and Grameen Foundation, both of which will extend the initiative’s global reach, powering the Alliance toward its long-term goal of seeing six million young women enter the technology workforce by 2030.

In addition, Girl Geek X and the App Inventor Foundation have signed on to expand access to mentors and develop enhanced training materials for educators, respectively.

Technovation is also proud to welcome Google and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation as funding partners for The AI Forward Alliance, with a focus on improving upon the training and curriculum at the centre of skills development. 

“We are thrilled to build upon our fruitful relationship with these organisations through this groundbreaking collaboration, to elevate diverse women AI innovators around the world,” says Tara Chklovski, CEO of Technovation. “The time to act is now – we’ve gathered the research, data and anecdotes that effectively illustrate the positive impact young women can have in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] fields.

“Together with the Alliance’s key partners and supporters, we can make tangible strides toward the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, driving self-reliance and self-efficacy through technology for all women and girls.”

While artificial intelligence has become a point of contention and concern, the World Economic Forum acknowledges that it has great potential to benefit society, but this can only be achieved through the protection of children’s privacy, safety and security, and an accurate representation of population diversity. The AI Forward Alliance will be a driving force by fostering more diverse leaders and promoting innovation across high-risk areas posed by AI, including discrimination, stereotyping and exclusion.

“UNICEF is proud to join forces with The AI Forward Alliance to share lessons learnt and evidence on what works to expand educational access to millions of girls and young women spanning 190 countries,” says Robert Jenkins, director of the Education and Adolescent Development Programme Group at UNICEF. “Together, we will continue to foster the development of girls’ crucial critical thinking skills and empowered decision-making that is sure to supercharge innovation and overall global well-being in the years to come.”

Adds Zubaida Bai, president and CEO of Grameen Foundation, “The foundation is committed to investing in the power of women, particularly young women who will be the leaders of tomorrow. Grameen has a long history of equipping women with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, and we are delighted to join with The AI Forward Alliance to apply that experience to helping young women gain the income, agency and resilience they will need as the shapers of our future.”