Women's underrepresentation in the information and communication technologies sector has detrimental effects on individuals and society. Women’s low representation directly leads to technological bias (technologies that are less suited to women’s needs), missed opportunities for innovation, as well as missed talent and potential of a considerable part of the population.

In a broader social context, this perpetuates inequalities, widens the digital divide and reduces the number of role models for future generations. Therefore, addressing this issue is crucial for building a more inclusive and prosperous society.

UNDP and Accelerator Lab have undertaken research aimed at better understanding this problem, from the barriers women face in education, to considerations of the cultural factors of their lower participation in careers in the ICT sector.