FORUM: “Girls in ICTs: Bridging ALL Divides for an Inclusive Digital Transformation.” International Girls in ICT Day 2025. This year and every year, ITU and partners work together to inspire and encourage girls to pursue a future in ICT’s towards bridging the gender digital divide. On this day, we will encourage young women and girls to pursue their studies and careers in science, engineering, technology, mathematics, and other fields and help them achieve their dreams. During the day, participants will be able to listen to the most inspiring speeches and messages made by the world leaders in order to motivate future women in tech; The global celebration will include a series of events that will address different topics related to Digital Skills i.e., role models, education, mentorship, and youth participation. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #STEM, #DigitalSkills, #ICT #GirlinICT, #ICTs, #DigitalTransformation, #GirlInICTDay.
EVENTS: On April 24th around 10:30-17:30 pm (EST) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan;The event to mark the Girls in ICT Day 2025 entitled “Girls in ICTs: Bridging ALL Divides for an Inclusive Digital Transformation” will be held. The global celebration will be part of the Regional Preparatory Meeting RPM in the CIS region for WTDC 2025. The celebration will emphasize the critical importance of achieving equal and equitable digital inclusion for ALL young women and girls, especially those in vulnerable situations, in the digital transformation process to accelerate global meaningful connectivity. The event will provide a platform for interactive intergenerational dialogue, focused on identifying concrete actions that promote gender equality and equity and will serve as a key turning point for young girls, inspiring them through the examples of women role models and the encouragement of men, to embrace ICT and pursue careers in STEM and tech field. This celebration will also be an opportunity for government officials, leaders in ICT sector, and representatives from the ITU-D Network of Women in the CIS region and beyond to come together and demonstrate a united commitment to empowering ALL girls and young women to ensure an inclusive digital transformation process and build a barrier free digital future. The seminars and workshops build onto the various initiatives of the ITU not only seek to achieve digital gender equality but also would address the importance of education and connectivity. Explore the Girls in ICT Day 2025 Programme and watch the celebration!
PUBLICATION: Exploring the Opportunities and Challenges of ICT-Mediated Food Sharing in Japan. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have been identified as potential enablers for alternative forms of sharing surplus food to prevent food loss and waste. Food sharing platforms can also provide an entry point to the sustainability transition by encouraging its users to confront the systemic causes of unsustainable and inequitable food systems. The paper explores the opportunities and challenges of ICT-mediated food sharing platforms in Japan. A comparative case study of 10 food sharing platforms operating in Japan was drawn from a web content analysis and semi-structured interviews. A consumer-side analysis was conducted, based on a Japan-wide survey of 10,000 respondents, to understand consumers’ general attitudes towards ICT-mediated food sharing and identify key challenges and drivers for its expansion. This paper provides initial contributions to understanding the Japanese experience of ICT-mediated food sharing from both the supply and consumption sides. All investigated food sharing platforms embedded food waste reduction and sustainable objectives in their mission. However, a consumer-side survey suggests that participation in food sharing was mainly driven by price consciousness and convenience orientation. Distrust towards the safety of redistributed food and reluctance to engage in a sharing community were some of the main barriers identified to food sharing. Highlighting convergences and divergences between platforms and consumers was key to starting developing intervention designs towards expanding online food sharing and leading consumers’ behaviour change. Read the full publication!
