Description
The Moldovan ICT sector, with its high share of the national GDP - 10% in 2021, was declared by the Moldovan government as a priority sector for the country's economic development. The biggest challenge the sector faces is the lack of skilled labour to meet the market needs, which creates a strong opportunity to attract more women for a career in ICT, as their representation in qualified IT positions is still low. In this context, the project supports the long-term ICT market development, strengthens public-private relationships and shares the Slovak experience in 3 regions - Chisinau, Gagauz and Baltic to systematically improve the socio-economic status of students, women and the general public (with regard to the Ukrainian female refugees). Through ‘The Cyber Security Academy’ programme and ESET internships, the project will support 30 students (m/w) of the Technical University of Moldova. 100 people (m/w) in Chisinau and 100 women in rural areas will benefit from the "Talent Incubator" - career mentoring and intensive ICT courses focused on social media, management, software testing or graphic / web design. The issue of gender equality will be further addressed through the refurbishment of 2 women's hubs, networking workshops and the international conference ‘Women in Tech’ (2900 participants). Lastly, the project will create/maintain employment through the provision of 6 micro grants for women-run businesses. The project comprehensively addresses the development of ICT capacities in Moldova, the causes of gender inequalities, links Chisinau with the rural areas and contributes to creating jobs for women.