STEMinist Conference 2026.
Globally, women continue to lag behind men in digital literacy, confidence, and access to technology. According to research by Bachmann and Hertweck, gender gaps persist in both advanced and emerging economies, with women showing lower proficiency in both foundational and advanced digital skills. Limited exposure to STEM pathways, technology-related opportunities, and confidence-building environments further widens this divide worldwide.
Across Africa, young women encounter compounded barriers such as cost, limited access to devices, inadequate digital training infrastructure, and restrictive socio-cultural norms. Chetty and colleagues’ global digital skills assessment also highlights that women face amplified barriers related to affordability, access, and preparedness for the digital economy. There is a 15% gender gap in digital skills among young people in Ghana, with young women being much less likely than young men to possess even basic digital skills. Women lag behind men in both access to and use of mobile phones and the internet, reflecting this disparity.
These issues are particularly severe in Ghana for low-income women and people with disabilities, who are shut out of financial literacy, digital learning, and skill-building initiatives. Studies by Raheem and collaborators show that barriers in digital access disproportionately affect low-income women and persons with disabilities, limiting their participation in entrepreneurship, work, education, and the larger digital innovation ecosystem as a result of these disparities.
Nova Impact’s programs highlight this national challenge. The Ghana Youth Tech Summit consistently records only about 25% female participation, emphasizing the limited representation of young women in technology spaces. This clear participation gap demonstrates the urgent need for practical, structured, and inclusive initiatives. The STEMinist program and Conference responds directly to this need by offering a practical, empowering platform for young women to gain visibility, mentorship, and opportunities within Ghana’s digital economy.
Nova Impact has built a strong foundation through its previous achievements. In 2025, twenty young women successfully completed a three-week hybrid Digital Marketing Training under the STEMinist Program and graduated at the STEMinist Conference which brought together 150 participants for dialogue and mentorship; the Career Mapping & Mentorship Program matched young women with seasoned STEM professionals; and in partnership with the SheRISE Initiative, 20 women were trained in Entrepreneurship and communication for social impact. These achievements demonstrate Nova Impact’s capability to deliver meaningful, scalable, and gender-responsive digital empowerment interventions.