Stakeholders have called for greater focus and investment in girls' education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects, especially in African States. This call was made during an event taking place at the margins of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) on March 11, 2025. The meeting held under the theme, “Girls and Women’s STEM education: Moving the needle Beyond Beijing+30”.
The interactive session provided a platform for delegates present to review progress and challenges on gender equality in education within the framework of the 30th year of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, laying special focus on STEM education. Amongst others, the meeting was equally geared at examining Member States’ status of girls' education with reference to the Draft Continental Report on Status of Girls Education co-published by the African Union CIEFFA and UNESCO IIEP. Participants also explored the progress in achieving gender equality in education, with a focus on girls’ education, STEM and skills development. Discussions centred around building awareness on the linkages between access to education, gender equality and the Beijing Declaration, Sustainable Development and AU’s Agenda 2063.
Other speakers included Dr Gamal Hassan, a researcher, and experts from ministries in charge of education and those in charge of gender
Moderated by Sophia Ashipala, Head of the Education Division of the AUC Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI), the opening ceremony laid the groundwork for the discussions that followed. In her opening remarks, Simone Yankey, Ag. Coordinator for the AU CIEFFA, representing the ESTI’s Commissioner, H.E. Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, underpinned the urgency of improving the status of girls in STEM fields. “Africa will need to build its expertise and skills in STEM as its contribution to global knowledge is currently still limited and lags behind the global average in terms of researchers per capita. With just 0.59% of its GDP allocated to Research and Development (R&D) compared to the global average of 1.79%, Africa contributes less than 1% of global research output”, she stated.
Dr Pia Britto, Global Director of Education and Adolescent Development, UNICEF, not only highlighted the concerning statistics of STEM education for girls but also suggested that stakeholders amplify systems that work. Some solutions she raised included stirring cross-sector partnerships through initiatives that have cut school absence by 40% and boosted digital access by 55%, targeted investments via digital tools, STEM programs, WASH initiatives, and intentional policy reform through gender-responsive STEM curricula that can shift mindsets and open doors.
Cristina Duarte, UN Special Adviser on Africa Under-Secretary-General, while delivering her keynote address, pinpointed feasible solutions to increasing girls' involvement in STEM careers. She noted the need to classify gender in terms of macroeconomics policies and analysis as well as opportunity costs, equipping women with economic access and assets of tangible and intangible goods to ensure their empowerment and unlocking women-driven solutions.
Other recommendations emanating from the discussions include the inclusion of vulnerable and under-represented populations, the integration of Gender, ICT, and STEM into national curricula, ensuring safe and inclusive learning environments, the establishment of a Pan-African Girls’ STEM Acceleration Fund to scale STEM education, and the reinforcement of Gender-responsive disaggregated evidence, indicators and data to guide and inform decision making by decision and policy makers.
The meeting, which was held at the AU Observer Mission to the UN in New York, was co-organised by the African Union CIEFFA, FAWE and UNICEF.
