“Achieving E-Quality in the ICT Sector” UNIFEM/Cisco Gender Initiative

1. “Achieving E-Quality in the ICT Sector” UNIFEM/Cisco Gender Initiative ICT Opportunities in the Arab Region Third Annual Private Sector Meeting In The Arab Region Dead Sea, Jordan October 1st & 2nd 2003

2. Project Objective Objective … To empower women in the ICT sector, through building their capabilities and professional skills, ensuring equal opportunities with regards to the ICT job market and securing a gender sensitive policy environment

3. Gaps & Interventions Gap… Lack of female IT professionals, especially in networking and hardware due to limited training opportunities Intervention… Capacity Building • 850 students currently enrolled in CNAP (65% females) • 450 graduated (280 hrs.) • 20% are CCNA, CCNP certified • Database and tracking system developed • IT skills training workshops enhanced market-required skills

5. Gaps & Interventions Gap… Ineffective female participation in Jordan’s ICT market due to stereotyping Intervention… Job Placement Program • Network of market stakeholders (job placement task force) • ICT Career Day • Coordination with recruitment programs and initiatives • Human and career development skills training workshops

7. Gaps & Interventions Gap… Lack of gender-sensitive information and statistics on the ICT sector in Jordan Intervention… Information Base • “Jordanian Women in the ICT Space” research developed • Gender sensitive information and statistics on the ICT sector made available (online and offline) • Research acting as a reference for planning ICT strategies and formulating national ICT initiatives

9. Gaps & Interventions Gap… Lack of awareness on the benefits of ICT and gender-ICT related issues among stakeholders Intervention… Awareness Raising • Conducted several gender awareness training workshops targeting students, market stakeholders and policy makers • Hosted the “E-Quality in the IT Sector” Conference • Introduced female IT role models • Carried out promotional and media campaigns targeting stakeholders

11. Gaps & Interventions Gap… Gender-blind policies and lack of gender mainstreaming activities Intervention… Policy Lobbying & Advocacy • Network of policy makers created • UNIFEM/MOICT task force developed mechanism to gender-sensitize national ICT initiatives • Major national ICT initiatives were gender-sensitized • UNIFEM involved in strategy planning of major national ICT initiatives

12. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (MOICT) IN JORDAN The e-Government Initiative ICT Literacy Training - Business Plan JUNE 2002 REACH 3.0 Launching Jordan’s Software and IT Services An Updated Strategy and Action Plan For H.M King Abdullah II September 2002

13. Success Stories

14. Success Stories Rania Al-Azab Rania Al-Azab Fadia Shakhdih One of the greatest experiences and most beneficial for me was my participation in the UNIFEM/Cisco program where I improved not only on my technical knowledge but also my personal skills. The program sought to develop my personality by providing me with the necessary skills to improve my communication, creative thinking and self-presentation thereby helping to make me better qualified for the IT market. After completing the UNIFEM /Cisco program and its Bridging Training Workshops, I wrote my CV and distributed it to various ICT companies. I was interviewed by a leading IT company where I was hired & currently work at. Ms. Haya Mustafa and Ms. Hala Abbas Our journey in the field of networking began in college through the efforts of the UNIFEM/Cisco program. Recently, we participated in the “ICT Career Day 2003”. We presented our graduation project at the Career Day where it received great reviews from many people especially from Dr. Mahmoud Khasawneh, Director of the E-government Program. He encouraged us to join the team that will be working on creating the networks for the MOICT. All thanks to UNIFEM’s contribution. I have had the opportunity to work in the Kitteh JITCC in the governorate of Jerash. Obtaining the CCNA certificates was a dream for me since I graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering from the College of Engineering in Yarmouk University. While working in the JITCC I wanted to improve my skills and my job position, which is why I joined the CNAP program in Princess Eman Center for IT. After completing the four semesters, I took the CCNA exam & passed, thereby making my dream a reality. Now I feel the opportunities for me in this world are boundless. Ms. Amal al-Tafish UNIFEM/Cisco had a big role in increasing my technical knowledge and developing my personality on a professional level, which helped my career tremendously. I had the incentive to continue in this field and participate in similar programs where I took a Computer Maintenance A+ Course and a Network Maintenance NW+ course. Dua’a Jankhot Dua’a was chosen from several candidates to work in an IT company. Dua’a says her Cisco training at YWCA’s Vocational Training Center has helped her find a job and has been very useful at her new job. Alia Gharaibeh and Hayat Al-Jibali Both Alia and Hayat have been appointed as lab technicians in Yarmouk University. “If it wasn’t for the Cisco training, I don’t think I would have been appointed, this is a great opportunity for us”.

15. Lessons Learned Raising awareness on the benefits of the program is an integral part for the success of the project Establishing a steering committee and developing regular communication among members is of great importance Involving stakeholders through formulating specialized task forces raises awareness and commitment Conducting soft skills and human development training workshops is very much needed Regularly updating information and statistics help facilitate dialogue with policy-makers and achieve objectives Documenting and updating database and tracking system is a key requirement

16. Future Plans Extension: Job Placement Capacity Building Policy Advocacy Awareness Expansion: Egypt Lebanon The Gulf Syria