By encouraging professional women to network and participate in lifelong learning, the IAEA is helping to address the lack of trained professionals in the nuclear field in Africa. Women in Nuclear (WiN), a non-profit organization that advocates for women in the nuclear field, is playing an important role in this endeavour. In 2023, the IAEA helped to advance the work of the WiN chapter in Africa, providing support for its efforts to expand and reach new audiences. Thanks to new national chapters and increased outreach efforts, WiN Africa is now supporting more African women working in nuclear science and technology, with a particular focus on helping early career professionals succeed in the nuclear field.
“We need to foster gender inclusivity in the nuclear sector in Africa — women constitute a key human resource for the continent. It is important that we create a supportive environment for the next generation of nuclear professionals by providing them with development opportunities and giving them a seat at the table,” said Shaukat Abdulrazak, Director of the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation’s Division for Africa.
In July 2022, the IAEA organized a mentoring workshop in coordination with WiN to support female early career professionals in Africa. Thirty-five young women from 29 Member States in Africa worked to plan their potential career paths within the nuclear field during the three-day workshop. Through nuclear site visits, presentations on regional success stories and sessions on career development, participants were able to identify opportunities for their advancement.
“The broad outreach and inclusive nature of WiN is attracting more girls and women to be involved in the nuclear field in Africa,” said WiN Africa President Soheir Korraa.
