Applications are accepted until June 24th via the link.

Expanding women's access to digital technologies is crucial not only for enhancing their economic opportunities but also for improving their standing in the labor market. Globally, women remain significantly underrepresented in the technology and tech sectors, often due to a lack of relevant technical skills and the influence of prevailing social norms and gender expectations.

The National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan actively promotes the "Digital Economy for Women" initiative. Through commission programs and skill development initiatives, women can enhance their competitiveness in the labor market, secure fair wages, and fulfill their professional potential.

"Kazakhstan is highly advanced in digitalization; our Egov system ranks 28th globally out of 198 countries, and first among CIS and Central Asian nations. The IT education system in our country is rapidly evolving, providing ample opportunities for girls and women to thrive in the tech industry," said Aziza Shuzheeva, a member of the National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan.

The National Commission has developed a plan of events aimed at increasing women's incomes by expanding their economic opportunities and engaging them in productive employment. In 2023, in collaboration with Astana Hub, the first cohort of the IT-Aiel project was launched, focusing on enhancing the digital competencies of unemployed individuals and women on maternity leave.

"Last year, within the IT-Aiel program, 2,634 women from across Kazakhstan applied, seeking to transform their lives through tech industry. This included over 900 unemployed women, more than 400 mothers on maternity leave, 500 students, and 700 self-employed women. Graduates of the first batch successfully created their own tech products such as websites and applications, marking a significant step towards financial independence and professional growth," stated Daniya Akhmetova, Managing Director of Astana Hub.

The second batch of the program continues to offer transformative opportunities. It includes No Code School for creating websites, mobile applications, and chatbots without coding; Freelance School for mastering remote work, niche selection, client acquisition; and E-commerce, supported by Mastercard, covering targeted advertising, social media management, online store setup, international platform sales, online payment integration, and cybersecurity fundamentals.

"In 2023, while on maternity leave, I participated in the IT-Aiel project, which offered free tech training and remote work opportunities, enabling a balance between family and career. Through this initiative, I developed CyberBala, a chatbot promoting digital hygiene and preventing cyberbullying among children and teenagers, using no-code tools," shared Aliya Orazymbetova, a finalist of the first IT-Aiel batch and creator of the CyberBala project.

E-commerce presents significant opportunities for women in Kazakhstan. According to research by Euromonitor International and KPMG, the e-commerce market volume reached 1.3 trillion tenge in 2023. Despite this sector's growth, women artisans and small to medium-sized business owners often encounter barriers accessing major e-commerce platforms.

"To build a modern entrepreneurial ecosystem, it's crucial to support and incentivize small and medium-sized businesses. E-commerce training programs aim to assist SMEs in expanding into the digital realm. We believe this initiative will strengthen our country's digital economy," said Aruzhan Mede, CEO of IMPRO.

The IT-Aiel 2.0 project is a collaborative effort led by the National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan, along with the international technology park Astana Hub and the non-profit organization TechnoWomen. All women interested in participating are invited to take advantage of free training that will help them carve out a niche in the tech industry.

For more details about the IT-Aiel 2.0 project, visit the website astanahub.com or follow @astanahub and @technowomenkz on social media.