Advancing gender-responsive science, technology and innovation policies for inclusive digital transformation in countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

This project aims to strengthen the capacity of policymakers in three ASEAN countries - Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines - to design and implement gender-responsive science, technology and innovation (STI) policies that address the differentiated needs of women and girls. In doing so, it contributes to inclusive digital transformation and accelerates progress toward the SDGs, in alignment with the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future.

The project addresses a core problem: the limited capacity of national institutions to understand how STI systems and digital innovation impact women and girls differently from men and boys. This hampers efforts to identify structural inequalities, design inclusive policies, and harness the potential of STI for inclusive development. Without stronger diagnostic tools and coordination, STI policies risk reinforcing digital exclusion.

Although ASEAN countries have expanded digital access, gender digital disparities persist. In Cambodia, women are 24% less likely than men to use mobile internet, and the smartphone ownership gap is 23%. Cost, low digital literacy, and limited use constrain women's engagement, especially in rural areas. While Indonesia and the Philippines have achieved near gender parity in mobile internet access, disparities in skills, meaningful use, and participation in STI fields persist, particularly among rural and low-income women, leaving them at risk of further exclusion.

The project will be implemented by UNCTAD in collaboration with ESCAP, RCOs and UNCTs. It will conduct national gender assessments of digital technologies in priority sectors, such as education, health, or agriculture, followed by consultations, workshops, and capacity-building to inform the design of inclusive STI policies. Policymakers, national consultants, and stakeholders will be trained to apply inclusive STI assessment tools.

Action plans or equivalent instruments, aligned with national strategies, will be shared regionally to support peer learning and policy coherence. 

Project results will also inform global policy dialogue offering a model for replication in other regions.