Space4Women
Capacity-building and awareness-raising activities
Space4Women facilitates capacity building and provides a plateform for sharing knowledge, best practices and raise awareness for the inclusion of women in the space sector. Capacity building and awareness raising activities bring together representatives from governments, private sector, academia, civil society and public entities to reflect on best practices and accumulate support on how the benefits of space can reach women and girls, and ensure they have an equal and active role in the areas of space science, technology, innovation and exploration. This translates in the organization of annual expert meetings, webinars, and conferences.
Objectives:
- Bring together experts to share expertise, knowledge, experience, and practical solutions, and chart a way forward in gender equality in the space domain
- Understand women's perspectives, needs and challenges in the context of research and innovation in space science technologies and applications
- Build women's capacity to leverage space capabilities and integrate their unique skills, perspectives and knowledge in the development of solutions
- Establish a cross-regional network of professionals to advance space solutions to benefit local and national communities in addressing challenges specific to their needs
- Support mainstreaming of gender in national space strategies and policies, including in STEM.
- Discuss further actions to achieve the targets set out in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, including removing barriers and bias to gender equality and the objective of a gender-balanced workforce.
Expert Meetings
As part of our capacity building and outreach efforts, Space4Women organizes expert meetings to discuss efforts to ensure that the benefits of space reach women and girls, as well as to foster their equal and active role in the areas of space science, technology, innovation and exploration. Through insightful conversations, expert presentations, brainstorming sessions and networking among experts, participants and enthusiasts, the Expert Meetings seek to advance skills, knowledge and awareness of space opportunities and initiatives to address Sustainable Development Goals and gender-based challenges at national, regional and international levels
The following Expert Meetings were organized:
First Space4Women Expert Meeting, 4 - 6 October 2017 in New York, USA, jointly organized with UN-Women: The two and a half days event brought together decision makers and experts from international organizations, governments and non-governmental organizations as well other high-ranking officials and representatives of the private sector and research institutions to discuss the scope and goals of a 'Space for Women' Project and develop a concrete project together. Read more
Second Space4Women Expert Meeting, UN/Brazil/United Arab Emirates, 21 - 22 October, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: the expert meeting focused on four thematics, including role models and mentors who promote careers in STEM fields and in the space sector, opportunities for women in the space sector, the space sector working as a driver for women development and hands-on experiences. Read more
Third Space4Women Expert Meeting, UN/Republic of Korea, 16 - 19 August 2022, Daejeon, Republic of Korea: the expert meeting focused on evidence-based measures to increase the access and participation of women in the space sector. Read more
Fourth Space4Women Expert Meeting, UN/Canada, 30 October - 3 November 2023, Montreal, Canada: the expert meeting focused on gender mainstreaming and capacity-building measures and paved the way for the elaboration of the Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit. Read more
Fifth Space4Women Expert Meeting, UN/Kenya, 27 - 29 November 2024, Nairobi, Kenya: the discussions focused on targeted capacity-building at all levels and prepared the elaboration of a STEM Education Toolkit for Women and Girls in Under-privileged Communities. Read more
Webinars
First webinar Space4Women x Cosmic Girls Foundation 'Demystifying space careers: not just astronauts': UNOOSA partnered with the Cosmic Girls Foundation for the organization of a first global webinar on Monday 21 July 2025, uniting young women and girls worldwide to explore how they can shape the future of space - without needing to be an astronaut. Read more
Events
Celebrating Women and Girls in Science 2025: on 11 February 2025, we celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science by hosting a dedicated side event on the margins of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of COPUOS.
69th International Astronautical Congress (2018), IAF IDEA "3G" Diversity Day: The 69 th International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany, again provided an entire day dedicated to Diversity. Several events for an intensive and open exchange on diversity and equality aspects were held and the Director of UNOOSA, Ms. Simonetta Di Pippo, participated in the IAF IDEA "3G" Diversity Breakfast & Afternoon Sessions (3G stands for gender, generation and geography). In the morning session, Ms. Di Pippo delivered a keynote presentation on the Space for Women Project, its history and steps forward, to a wide variety of stakeholders, including high-level representatives from space agencies, capitols, private sector, academia and civil society.