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Women should be encouraged to bring their vision and leadership, knowledge and skills, views and aspirations into the development agenda from the grassroots to international levels. Science and technology brings economic growth and well-being to people and it is not only the empowerment of women through science and technology, but also the enrichment of science and technology through women’s participation. It is not the concern of one nation only, but there are many players and stakeholders in the aim to reach this millennium goal. Programmes should be worked out to empower women through innovative scientific activities integrating action oriented literacy, sound micro-finance and micro-enterprise training as well as an understanding of legal rights and advocacy. Apart from the efforts of United Nations family of organizations, multilateral bodies and civil society, the positive role of women also depends on the supportive attitudes of their local family unit, the local community in each village and town. We just hope that women become empowered at 100% and become equal to men so that both of them may work side by side for a better world of today.  This was the sentiment echoed at the International Workshop on Empowerment of Women through Science and Technology. 

In order to deliberate on the emergent need for capacity building for women in order to economically empower them, the Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) organized a 3-day International Workshop on Empowerment of Women through Science & Technology Interventions from 14-16 December 2008 at IROST Headquarters in Tehran, Iran jointly with the Iranian Research Organization for Science & Technology (IROST), Ministry of Science, Research & Technology of Iran and Iranian Association of Women’s Studies (IAWS), Tehran.

Naadiya Moosajee, co-founder of SAWomEng (South African Women in Engineering), was selected by the South African Department of Science & Technology as the official South African representative and attended the three day event.  The workshop was attended by 60 experts from 14 different countries. 

The SAWomEng National Conference was presented as a case study on efforts within South Africa to increase the number of female students entering the engineering industry.  SAWomEng is a student run organisation founded at the University of Cape Town in 2005.  The organisation, the brainchild of two then third year civil engineering students, Naadiya Moosajee and Mabohlale Mampuru, have grown the organisation into a National effort to change the face of engineering.  The main aim of the organisation is to promote the retention of women in engineering by starting at grass root levels and attracting females into engineering through what is called the Girl-Eng initiative. This division of SAWomEng organises days where top female high school students around the country are brought together for a day of fun and learning more about engineering.  The flagship event is the National conference, which brings together the top female engineering students from around South Africa for a week long conference with a difference.  Delegates participate in activities ranging from paintball with mentors, to networking with South Africa’s most influential women including the likes of Ferial Haffajee (Editor of the Mail & Guardian).  The unique concept of the conference is the technical project.  The conference is not merely fun activities and great networking opportunities, the delegates tackle a technical project over the conference period.  Each year, the project is finding engineering solutions to South Africa’s biggest challenges. Previous projects include finding alternate energy solutions to South Africa’s energy crisis, and solutions to various impacts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

The presentation received a very positive response from delegates and government officials in Iran.  The main outcome from the workshop was the so called Tehran Resolution which outlines a way forward for governments in empowering women at all levels.  The workshop was an important step for developing countries to showcase their commitment to empowering women and showcasing the efforts of women working tirelessly in the field of Science and Engineering.