In alignment with the global celebration of Girls in ICT Day 2026 under the theme “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future,” the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization, in partnership with Global Training and Consulting Services (GTC), is organizing the AWAIL Dialogue: Shaping Intergenerational Leadership in AI and Cybersecurity at its headquarters in Tunis.
This event comes at a pivotal time, as Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform cybersecurity, digital economies, and societal resilience, redefining the skills and leadership required for the future. Despite these advancements, girls and women across the Arab region still face significant challenges, including limited access to advanced digital and AI-related skills, as well as underrepresentation in strategic sectors such as AI and cybersecurity. Addressing these gaps is essential to unlocking inclusive and sustainable digital transformation across the region.
On this occasion, AICTO will officially launch the AWAIL Program “Arab African Women in AI Leadership“, a forward-looking initiative designed to empower a new generation of female leaders at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and digital innovation. The launch marks a transition from dialogue to concrete action, fostering greater inclusion and leadership opportunities for women and girls.
The AWAIL Program aims to equip participants with cutting-edge skills in AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, while strengthening leadership capacities through mentorship, regional exposure, and cross-border collaboration. It further seeks to connect Arab and African ecosystems, enabling knowledge exchange and accelerating women’s participation in shaping ethical, secure, and inclusive AI systems.
The event will focus on several key themes, including the role of AI in enhancing cybersecurity and digital trust, strategies to bridge the gender gap in technology fields, and the importance of cross-generational dialogue between pioneers, professionals, and emerging talents. It will also highlight success stories and practical pathways to support women’s engagement and career development in the digital sector.
Structured as a dynamic half-day engagement, the program will feature opening remarks and keynote addresses by distinguished women leaders and institutional representatives, followed by an interactive cross-generational dialogue bringing together experts, professionals, and students. A dedicated segment, “Voices of the Future,” will showcase presentations by young girls and students sharing their vision for the digital future. The event will also include the official unveiling of the AWAIL Program and a call for participation to onboard its first cohort of beneficiaries and partners.
The AWAIL Dialogue will bring together a diverse audience, including women leaders and policymakers in ICT and cybersecurity, female engineers and researchers, university students and young innovators, as well as girls in secondary education with an interest in STEM fields.
Through this initiative, AICTO and its partners reaffirm their commitment to empowering women and girls as key drivers of innovation and digital transformation, and to fostering a more inclusive, secure, and resilient digital future for the Arab and African regions.