On International Women's Day, UNFPA Zambia joins in celebrating the achievements of women and girls in innovation and technology, particularly in Zambia. Mwiza Naluyele, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Assistant working with UNFPA Zambia shares her inspiring story:

If we only have 5% of the women in the IT field globally, choose to be in that 5% because you are gifted, you are special and you are unique - Mwiza Naluyele, ICT Assistant with UNFPA Zambia.

“Being able to contribute towards gender equality and women’s empowerment through innovation and technology has always been my dream. Working for the UN in this field allows me to freely apply my skills, without being deemed incompetent because of my gender. I am able to effectively apply my knowledge and skills at work, while I also use this opportunity to inspire other young women who, like me, have been bold enough to pursue a career in the field of technology” – says Mwiza.

Growing up, Mwiza recalls the idea of technology being presented as a difficult field for women. "I recall several people telling me that women are considered to be less 'tech- savvy' with many doubting their capacity to excel in this field. It was at that point that I told myself I would accept this 'challenge' and prove that a woman can excel in the same manner than a man can" – she says.

Mwiza joined UNFPA Zambia as an ICT Assistant in May 2022. She describes “Helping other people use technology to reach their own professional goals” as a very rewarding experience. She says using her knowledge and skills to make other people’s tasks simpler and effective is very rewarding. "Personally, I feel ICT specialists are crucial team members in any organization, and women have a unique role to play in this field" – Mwiza adds.

She shares a message to other young women aspiring to build a career in ICT: “The sky is not the limit, chase your dreams, let no one deem your shine. If we only have 5% of the women in the IT field globally, choose to be in that 5% because you are gifted, you are special and you are unique.” - says Mwiza.