Background
Since June 2021, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RO-ASP) has been implementing a project called “Enhancing the Development of Standards and Frameworks for Critical Technologies in Southeast Asia", financed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The aim of the project is to support the development of AI standards, policies, frameworks, and initiatives that mainstream gender equality and social inclusion in four countries in the region, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, through a multi-stakeholder approach. The project has published a research report into gender and AI policies in the region through a collaboration with UNU Macau. It has also carried out a series of capacity-building and information-sharing workshops and events, most notably the AI roadshow in the four countries in early 2023. As part of the roadshow, sensitization on the intersection between Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and AI were conducted.
Building on the previous project activities and in line with the project's goal and objectives, ITU RO-ASP is organizing a series of webinars to continue to share information and build capacity on gender-sensitive and socially inclusive AI standards, policies, frameworks and initiatives.
While the webinars are focused on the four project countries, they are public events and open to all interested parties.