UN Women and GCF Partner to Boost Women in Cybersecurity and Digital Economy
MoU signed to advance women’s leadership and participation in cybersecurity through high-level initiatives and global advocacy.
UN Women and the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening women’s participation and leadership in cybersecurity and the broader digital economy. The agreement was formalized during the GCF Annual Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and represents a significant step forward in advancing the Beijing+30 Action Agenda and UN Women’s commitment to gender equality in the digital era.
Under this partnership, the two organizations will work to increase women’s representation in cybersecurity through strategic alliances, digital advocacy, and amplification of women’s achievements in the sector. The collaboration will feature joint high-level convenings, cross-learning events, and digital campaigns, aligned with GCF’s Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity initiative and UN Women’s global programs on innovation and technology.
The urgency of this collaboration is underscored by the GCF 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Report, which reveals that women account for only 24 per cent of the global cybersecurity workforce. This gender gap highlights the need for targeted programs to create meaningful pathways for women to enter and thrive in this rapidly growing field.
Experts emphasize that investing in gender equality has profound social and economic benefits. UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2025 notes that closing the gender digital divide could positively impact 343.5 million women and girls globally, lift 30 million women out of poverty by 2050, and potentially generate an estimated USD 1.5 trillion boost to global GDP by 2030.
Through this partnership, UN Women and GCF aim to empower women to take leading roles in shaping the digital future, promoting inclusive innovation, and ensuring that women and girls benefit equally from the opportunities presented by the digital economy. By fostering leadership, providing mentorship, and amplifying women’s voices in cybersecurity, the collaboration seeks to create a more diverse, resilient, and equitable digital workforce worldwide.
This initiative marks a pivotal moment in addressing the gender imbalance in technology and cybersecurity, demonstrating how strategic collaboration and targeted investments in women can drive both social progress and economic growth on a global scale.
