When Noha Gaafar, Executive Director for International Policies at Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority, first started working on ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) matters, she relied on the help of more experienced female colleagues to share their advice to help her navigate the Sector’s structure and priorities, understand the various policy processes, events, and ways of working.
“I remember how invaluable it was to have their encouragement and help to find my footing,” Noha said.
She now helps to empower other women to actively participate in decision-making processes as the Chair of the Network of Women (NoW) in ITU-D in the Arab States region.
“The Network of Women in ITU-D provides a much-needed platform to connect and help others feel more confident and prepared to engage in ITU-D’s work across the region. Being part of the Network, I aim to support the other women as much as possible and to help ensure that more women feel welcomed, confident, and capable of contributing meaningfully to ITU-D’s important work,” said Noha.
With the support of Member States, the NoW in ITU-D in the Arab States region has organized a series of online trainings and workshops tailored to the needs of women working in the ICT and digital development fields. They have covered a wide range of topics, including international and diplomatic relations, dispute resolution and management, effective communication skills, leadership skills, and self-motivation for excellence.
These activities have helped to build a pipeline of confident female ICT leaders. Among them is Maya Oueidat, Project Controller Manager at the Organisme de Gestion et d’Exploitation de l’ex Radio Orient (OGERO) in Lebanon.
“I got involved in the Network of Women in ITU-D in the Arab States Region because I strongly believe in the importance of empowering women in the digital sector, especially in our region. I saw this as an opportunity to contribute to meaningful change by sharing my experience, learning from others, and helping to build a more inclusive digital future. I also value the collaboration and knowledge exchange that the Network fosters across countries and organizations,” she said. “It has also helped me grow personally and professionally by expanding my perspective, strengthening my leadership skills, and deepening my commitment to creating more inclusive digital policies and practices.”
The Network’s impact is amplified through partnerships with external organizations, multiplying the reach of its mission to empower women and shape a more inclusive digital future – and inspiring action across the global ICT community.
In 2023, the Network partnered with Google to offer 200 free certified training programs on topics such as project management, digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, cybersecurity, data analytics, and business intelligence through the Coursera platform.
Dr. Reem Faraj Al-Shammari, Chairperson and Co-Founder of Women in Cyber Security Middle East (WiCSME), coordinated with the Network of Women in ITU-D in the Arab States to offer these Google-certified programs to the members of her WiCSME community and onboard hundreds of participants across three cohorts.
“We are stronger together – the more we grow, the better for the women in the Middle East,” she said.
This has opened other doors for collaboration in which Women in Cyber Security Middle East implemented the ITU-D Women in Cyber Mentorship Programme for the Arab region, introducing Arabic content to help reduce the language barrier faced by many participants. Dr. Al-Shammari has also partnered with ITU-D on several activities, including participating in ITU-D panel sessions to share the many success stories of women who are thriving thanks to these mentorship and empowerment opportunities.
“Our purpose in life is to leave a good impact on the people around me and to help women thrive, flourish and feel empowered. Thanks to the trust and support of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, we have boosted and multiplied that impact,” Dr Al-Shammari said. “When one woman rises, we all rise.”
As for Noha, it seems her hopes for the future of the Network are already coming true: “My hopes for the growth and legacy of the Network of Women in ITU-D in the Arab States region are centered on building a sustainable, inclusive, and influential platform that not only empowers individual women, but also transforms institutional mindsets across the region,” she said.
This is an ITU Development #BDT4Impact story
About the Network of Women (NoW) in ITU-D
The Network of Women in ITU-D has regional chapters across the world. Established in 2021, NoW in ITU-D has increased the visibility of women within ITU-D, leading to expanded roles and greater responsibilities.
