The 2025 UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship begins today, bringing together 33 women diplomats from as many countries for an immersive week-long training programme in Geneva, Switzerland. The fellowship is part of UNIDIR’s broader efforts to contribute to women’s meaningful participation in international security, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
As the world continues to grapple with the rapid evolution of AI and related technologies, as well as their implications for global security, the UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship plays a pivotal role in ensuring that women diplomats are not only participants but also leaders in shaping the future of AI governance. Through this fellowship, UNIDIR promotes capacity-building for women diplomats and paves the way for the inclusion of diverse perspectives in vital decisions around AI governance.
The global picture
Women make up less than a third of the AI workforce globally and are less than a fifth of AI researchers globally – this means that the development and deployment of AI is being conducted in an already gender-biased environment. When it comes to governance of AI, UNIDIR research shows that in most disarmament forums, only a third of the diplomats are women.
The fellowship is a response to this inequality in AI governance and aims to equip women diplomats with the knowledge, skills and resources to engage actively in related multilateral discussions, and specifically for its security applications.
What’s in store for the week
During the week, fellows will gain a comprehensive understanding of AI, spanning from its technical components and military applications to its ethical, legal and governance-related considerations.
The training encompasses sessions led by UNIDIR’s experts and includes distinguished guest speakers, such as the UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu. The programme will cover key topics such as basic concepts around AI technology, considerations around ethics and biases, military applications of AI and its governance, and the cyber-AI nexus among others.
UNIDIR is committed to supporting women’s participation and agency across the board, and we are counting on you to break the mould and bring new ideas to international security discussions.
Robin Geiss, UNIDIR Director (Welcome remarks)
The 2025 fellowship builds on the success of its pilot edition last year and features a unique blend of lecture-style training modules, hands-on exercises, a documentary screening, and ample opportunities for discussion and networking amongst the fellowship cohort and with the diplomatic community in Geneva.
The UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship is possible thanks to the support of our donors: Australia, Canada, Czechia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, and Switzerland.