Nowadays, the world is on the threshold of a drastic transformation. Accelerating globalization, growing energy, food supply and production demands, evolving nature of jobs and emerging epidemiological threats are all changing our way of living. There is a need to develop new inclusive business models to strengthen the resilience of communities while promoting solidarity and cooperation among governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia and civil society.

Many challenges and opportunities are facing the global community, and women are often the ones left behind. The greater integration of women in the context of Industry 4.0 has an ever-growing potential to help transform economies and further boost inclusive and sustainable industrial development in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis.

UNIDO has been long advocating for more women in industry as a prerequisite for economic growth, social cohesion and prosperity. Since 2018, with the financial support of the Russian Federation, UNIDO has been implementing a project aimed at advancing the women’s economic empowerment agenda in the region of Europe and Central Asia and beyond.

Within the framework of the project, UNIDO is organizing a webinar series and a panel discussion at the third Eurasian Women’s Forum (EAWF) in autumn 2021 under the general theme “Emerging opportunities for women in the digital age”.

The six thematic webinars will allow the audience to take stock of the existing best practices and conducive policies while seeking innovative solutions to the most acute challenges pertaining to the economic empowerment of women in Industry 4.0.

The food-for-thought paper outlining key messages and takeaways of the six webinars and informing the panel discussion is available here.

To read the news article about UNIDO’s engagement at the third Eurasian Women’s Forum, please go here.