Arab ICT Organization Celebrates International Girls in ICT Day with the Launch of the “AWAIL” Program – Arab & African Women in Advanced Intelligence Leadership AICTO Headquarters, April 24, 2026
The Arab ICT Organization (AICTO) held, on Friday, April 24, 2026, at its headquarters in La Marsa, the “AWAIL Dialogue: Towards Intergenerational Leadership in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity,” organized in partnership with Global Training and Consulting Services (GTC), in celebration of the International Girls in ICT Day.
The event brought together a distinguished group of women leaders, decision-makers, and experts in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity from the Republic of Tunisia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Palestine, and the Syrian Arab Republic. It also welcomed representatives and experts from the League of Arab States, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), and the GSMA. The active participation of students and young women interested in technology fields further embodied the concept of intergenerational dialogue.
The event featured insightful interventions by Ms. Huda Baraka, Advisor to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt; Dr. Nibal Idlebi, Senior Advisor on Digital Transformation and Innovation Policy (former ESCWA Director); Dr. Nadia Brahmi, Technology Director at GSMA; Dr. Mona Demaidi, Vice President for Artificial Intelligence at AAUP in Palestine; and Ms. Soha Osman, ICT Expert at the League of Arab States.
In his address, H.E. Eng. Mohamed Ben Amor, Director General of AICTO, emphasized that the launch of the AWAIL program reflects a strategic vision aimed at empowering Arab and African women to lead in advanced intelligence and cybersecurity. He highlighted the importance of moving from empowerment to leadership, within the broader framework of supporting comprehensive digital transformation, strengthening regional cooperation, and building capacities.
For her part, Ms. Houyem Ghrairi, Director General of GTC, underscored the importance of the program in preparing women leaders capable of securing the digital space and developing trustworthy technological systems. She reaffirmed GTC’s commitment to supporting this initiative and strengthening Arab-African partnerships for a secure and sustainable digital transformation.
The dialogue commenced with an opening session emphasizing the importance of equipping women and girls with advanced digital skills and enhancing their presence in leadership roles within future technology sectors. The main session addressed the leadership gap in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, highlighting the need for greater inclusion of women in driving digital transformation.
The event also featured interactive sessions within the “AWAIL Leadership Lab.” The first phase brought together leaders and experts to identify key challenges and strategic opportunities, while the second phase provided a platform for the younger generation to share their perspectives and aspirations for a more inclusive technological future.
A dedicated session was held on strengthening cooperation between regional and international organizations to build a supportive ecosystem for women’s empowerment in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, contributing to the development of more integrated policies and programs across the Arab and African regions.
The event concluded with the official launch of the “AWAIL” program – Arab & African Women in Advanced Intelligence Leadership – as a regional initiative aimed not only at empowerment but at shaping a new generation of women leaders. The program will offer a comprehensive platform for capacity building, leadership development, and enhanced cooperation among Arab and African countries in advanced technology fields. On this occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between partners to support the implementation and expansion of the program.
Participants concluded with a set of key recommendations, notably the need to invest in developing digital skills among girls from an early educational stage, strengthen mentorship programs, and support inclusive innovation environments to ensure women’s active and sustainable participation in shaping the future of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
This event reaffirms the commitment of the Arab ICT Organization and its partners to advancing the role of women in the technology sector and to supporting inclusive digital transformation across the Arab and African regions.
