Join the dream team: Apply to be a part of the Women in Data Steering Committee

There is no denying that a digitalized society is the new world order; and data is at the center of it. However, the data and digital sectors are enormously male-dominated. This underrepresentation of women can be traced back to exclusion of women from education, politics, science, income-generation, and social lives – perpetuated by gender stereotypes, norms, discriminatory policies and practices. This is true not just for women, but also for marginalized communities. This exclusion comes in the form of limited access to STEM education, under-representation in the IT, data and engineering fields, gender-based discrimination at the workplace, erasure from vital data and ultimately disappearance from decision making.

Fighting such complex and deep-rooted issues requires collective action – from people working in the field, from women and marginalized communities, from advocates, enthusiasts and allies.

The Data for Development Program of the Asia Foundation supports the Women in Data (WID) Steering Committee – a coalition of organizations working to end underrepresentation of women in data. The Committee was established in 2020 and through the years, the Committee has successfully organized the Women in Data Conference and conducted multiple skill-based workshops for female students and tech-enthusiasts. They have also engaged tech companies in Nepal to create direct pathways for women to access the data and tech job market. The Committee also led important and impactful research including women’s access to microfinance institutions. It has worked in the themes of women’s entrepreneurship, employability and gender tech. By fostering and building collective actions, the D4D program aims to make the data and tech sector more inclusive, where women have equal opportunities to enter, thrive and lead in these fields.

WID Steering Committee is now looking for an organization/group to join the coalition that will actively collaborate and work in various activities/initiatives to end the underrepresentation of women in data. Read more details and apply ?

What is the WID Steering Committee and how does it function?

The WID Steering Committee is a close network of four leading organizations (Open Knowledge Nepal, Shequal Foundation, Women Leaders in Technology and Women in STEAM) in support of The Asia Foundation’s Data For Development Program. The Committee works as a coalition and in collaboration to create space for more women to advance in the field.

This year, the Steering Committee will invite more members to expand the network and strengthen its efforts. The expanded Committee will work through three approaches:

1. Building strong networks for collective action: The Committee will meet on a monthly basis and hold discussions on important issues in the field of data and tech so as to enhance understanding of the challenges and devise workable solutions.
2. Cross-learning: The varied experience and expertise of Committee members will offer opportunities for cross-learning and sharing – facilitating cohesive growth and skills enhancement.
3. Promote innovation through collaboration: Sustained discussions on issues important for all will allow members to collaborate and innovate together to solve common challenges, a requisite for collective action.

These are also the goals the Steering Committee intends to achieve in the coming year.

Mandates of the Steering Committee

• The Steering Committee will actively participate in monthly meetings and discussions.
• The Steering Committee will commit time and effort for other collaborations and tasks based on need.
• The Steering Committee will adopt a rotational leadership approach, i.e. the  responsibility of leading each meeting will be alternated among its members. This means that one member will lead a monthly discussion, and the leadership position will subsequently be passed on to another member for the subsequent meeting. This includes but does not limit to logistical arrangements like coordinating with all members, checking availability, sending invitations to members; and programmatic arrangements like deciding a topic of discussion, planning modality of discussion, inviting externals if necessary and facilitating the discussion.
• The Steering Committee will respect each other’s time, effort and insights and will maintain a cordial, collaborative and respectful environment for everyone to thrive.

Eligibility

• The organization/group must be working around the field of data, technology, gender-tech, gender, inclusion or other related field. (A loose network or group working around the above mentioned topics can also apply, the organization/group doesn’t have to be a formally registered one.)
• The organization/group must have a proven commitment, interest or enthusiasm towards advancing women, youth and marginalized communities in the field of data or technology.
• The organization/group can commit time and effort to collaborate in a loose network.

Selection Criteria

* The selection will be done by a jury based on the following criterias.

• Time commitment and availability of the applicants.
• Value of inclusion demonstrated in the organization/group.
• Relevancy of the organization/group’s work to the Steering Committee.
• Prior experience in working in loose groups/ networks will be a benefit.
• Organizations led by members of marginalized communities are highly encouraged to apply.

Application Form

Please fill out this form by 17 July 2023.

Timeline

• Application opens: 27 June 2023
• Application closes: 17 July 2023
• Finalize result announcement: 28 July 2023
• New committee member onboarding: 1 August 2023

If you have any questions or queries, feel free to reach out to womenindatanepal@gmail.com.

Note

1. The application is open or organizations or groups. While the groups do not need to me formally registered, the application is not open for individual applicants. If you are an individual wishing to be a part of our work, do write to us at womenindatanepal@gmail.com and we will find avenues to work together.
2. This is a voluntary engagement and does not include any kind of monetary compensation.