Austrian Federal Chancellery supports digital skills development for women and girls

Two women sitting next to each other in front of a laptop

The Austrian Federal Chancellery is investing 2 million euros to support women and girls, with a special focus on the digital sector.

Minister for Women, Susanne Raab, announced in August 2024 the 18 projects selected following a call for proposals. The 2 million euros in funding will go to projects aimed at empowering women.

Purpose of the funding

The funded projects aim to support women, particularly those in rural areas, women over the age of 60, and women in agriculture, to enhance their participation in the Austrian society. There is a strong emphasis on empowering women and girls in the digital sector. Other supported initiatives include the prevention of gender-based violence, breaking down gender stereotypes, and promoting the value and self-determination of older women.

Digital projects to foster skill development

At least five of the selected projects focus on building digital skills:

“Digital Navigator” (University of Salzburg) enhances digital skills for girls and young women and promotes their responsible use of digital media.
“Fearless Online” (LebensGroß GmbH) provides knowledge to protect women with intellectual disabilities in the digital space.
“cyberpower”* (ZARA) raises awareness of gender-based violence online.
“Safe in the Digital World” (Johannes Kepler University) educates female students about the dangers of cybercrime through AI and provides protection strategies.
“Preventing Digital Violence” (Women* Counseling Women*) raises awareness of digital violence and teaches ways to take action.

These projects were chosen to comprehensively empower women and girls in the digital realm and promote a discrimination-free environment. Teaching digital skills to women and girls is one of several approaches to achieving this goal.

At the same time, women and girls face specific forms of attacks on the internet that cannot be solved solely by teaching skills. Therefore, the projects take a multi-perspective approach to address the digital space and its impact on actual gender equality.

What’s Next?

All funded initiatives, along with their goals and brief descriptions, are publicly available in an overview list provided by the Austrian Federal Chancellery. The initiatives will be implemented between September 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025.

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