Online professional network LinkedIn said it will invest $500,000 (₹3.88 crore) in a three-year regional partnership with United Nations Women, a United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
LinkedIn said in a statement that the project will launch a pilot to develop digital, soft and employability skills among 2,000 women in Maharashtra and provide them with a number of career-building opportunities through job fairs, mentoring sessions and peer-to-peer networks. will provide opportunities.
Addressing gender-responsive technology policy making in the Asia-Pacific region was important in Asia, with 54.6% of men having access to the Internet compared to 41.3% of women. According to the social media platform, this represents a gender gap.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), between 2013 and 2017, the gender gap in Asia increased from 17% to 24%. Women and girls often do not have the same access to education, or types of education, as men and boys, which sometimes leaves them with lower digital skills, literacy and consequently fewer economic opportunities in an increasingly digital world. In fact, the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 has only widened the opportunity gap for women and girls in the past two years.
“As more businesses and professionals recognize the rewarding impact of gender-equal workplaces, we have a unique opportunity to help women become more employable and entrepreneurial in today’s digital age. By bringing women closer to the right skills and resources, we aspire to create a more equitable and all-inclusive talent landscape,” said Ashutosh Gupta, India Country Manager, LinkedIn.
With this partnership, LinkedIn and UN Women will work together to bridge this gap, aiming to help the region and the world achieve greater gender equality in the workforce.
LinkedIn said that after a 15-month pilot in India, UN Women and LinkedIn will incorporate the lessons learned and evaluate feedback to improve programs and then extend it to other Asia-Pacific countries.
