Carnegie Mellon University Africa, in World Bank Group, and African Development Bank have teamed to launch a programme designed to bridge the prevailing gender gap in science. 

Dubbed STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Women Lead Series, the initiative is meant to inform, encourage, and empower young Africans, particularly women, to pursue STEM-related programmes. 

The launch of the series, which took place at the CMU Africa campus on Thursday, March 3, is in alignment with International Women’s Day. 

It comes at a time when there are few women graduating in the STEM field compared to men. 

According to Pew Research Center, women are significantly underrepresented in the workforce and the disparity is even more pronounced in black women.

And, according to UNESCO, only 8 per cent of women are enrolled in engineering, construction, manufacturing, while just a paltry 3 per cent is enrolled in ICT. 

The imbalance means that the industry is significantly underutilising a key segment of the potential workforce which is detrimental to achieving the continent’s growth and development.

During the dialogues, leaders will share their personal experiences, professional journeys, and inspire their audiences to take action towards a future in STEM. 

Experts weigh in on gender-inclusive efforts

In the first of the four-part series schedule to take place in 2022, Claudette Irere, Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of TVET and ICT, said that she owed a big part of the motivation to her father who always believed in her and President Paul Kagame, who according to her believes and invest in women empowerment.

For Lucy Nshuti Mbabazi, the Head of Africa Advocacy and Partnership at the UN Better than Cash Alliance, it was her undergraduate thesis mentor and her first employer who pushed her to believe in herself most. 

According to Dr. Frannie Leautier, Senior Partner and CEO of SouthBridge Investments; "This is a reminder and a note of gratitude to men who believed in us, uplifted and pushed us to attain our full potential.”

This she stated, testifies that it will take everybody’s necessary participation and efforts to empower more African women and hence clear the gender imbalance still present. 

Policymakers and educators were challenged to pioneer the cause. 

"We need policymakers to set more inclusive parameters that favour women who want to join STEM but also educators are very key in the fight against stereotypes and towards the implementation of these policies,” said Irere.

She added, "May we all make it an assignment to delegate more campaigns that foster this kind of meaningful conversations back in our homes and communities at large.” 

When asked how one can foster work-life balance, Mbabazi advised that one should seek something they are passionate about. 

"When you are passionate about your job, you are not working to live. You are already living,” she said.

Dr. Leautier stated that; "It is necessary to work as most of us get our livelihood from it, but it is better to plan your life according to the stages you are in.” 

She continued, "For those who choose to get married, make families and raise kids, take it to step by step and strike a balance with your partner. The same applies to other stages of life, live a little, and relax for it’s necessary for your wellbeing as well.”

The STEM Women Lead Series has three objectives; to provide role models by showcasing and highlighting the importance of the role of women in STEM fields and the positive impact on society. 

To inspire young women to pursue STEM education by dispelling stereotypes and social norms that discourage girls’ interest in STEM, and demonstrate exciting career paths within the future of work, thereby encouraging women to enrol in STEM programmes.