UN Women and Global Cybersecurity Forum join forces to advance women’s representation in cybersecurity - UN Women

UN Women and the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in cybersecurity and the digital economy. The agreement was signed during the GCF Annual Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Image Photo: Sarah Hendriks and Abdurahman Alhassan, Acting CEO of the GCF. Photo credit: GCF The partnership marks a milestone in advancing the Beijing+30 Action Agenda and UN Women’s strategic commitment to ensuring that women and girls benefit equally from the digital revolution. Under the MoU, the two organizations agreed to increase women’s representation in cybersecurity through strategic alliances and digital amplification and host high-level convening and cross-learning mechanisms. The collaboration will include joint high-level convenings, cross-learning events, and digital advocacy efforts under GCF’s Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity initiative and UN Women’s global programmes on innovation and technology. According to GCF’s 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Report, women make up only 24 per cent of the global cybersecurity workforce, underscoring the need for stronger partnerships to create pathways for women to enter and thrive in this rapidly growing field. Targeted investments in gender equality have the power to transform societies and economies. UN Women’s recently launched Gender Snapshot 2025 notes that closing the gender digital divide alone could benefit 343.5 million women and girls worldwide, lift 30 million out of poverty by 2050, and generate an estimated USD 1.5 trillion boost to global GDP by 2030. Topics Innovation and technology Arab States/North Africa Saudi Arabia