UNIDIR Women in AI fellowship

The UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship seeks to counter the chronic under-representation of women in international security processes, where only one in every three diplomats accredited to arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament forums is a woman.

This capacity-building initiative equips women diplomats with the expertise to explore the latest and emerging AI applications from policy, legal and technical lens. Fellows develop the knowledge and skills required to engage effectively in multilateral AI discussions in the field of international peace and security.

The 2025 Women in AI Fellows were selected from over 260 applicants representing 90 different countries of the world.

The programme at a glance

The fellowship is a week-long, in-person training held in Geneva. It includes AI lab visits, guest lectures, and networking opportunities with experts and stakeholders in the field. Each year, around 30 women diplomats working in and around security and technology are selected, with a limited number receiving funding support to participate.

The programme offers a holistic understanding of AI across three key pillars:

Education: Fellows receive a substantive introduction to AI technologies, including their strengths and limitations; observed use cases in security contexts; relevant international security considerations; the background and current state of multilateral AI policy and governance discussions; and the link between gender and military AI.
Exploration: Participants engage in visits to Geneva-based labs and organizations employing practical AI solutions. These include targeted briefings and a sense of the ecosystems involved in AI design, development, deployment and governance.
Networking: UNIDIR facilitates fellows’ interactions with experts and relevant stakeholders to enable the forging of strong connections with the diplomatic community, the private sector and civil society.

Experience the journey firsthand

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2024 Women in AI Fellowship: Lasting impact

15 January 2025

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2024 Women in AI Fellowship: Empowering policymakers

16 January 2025

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2024 Women in AI Fellowship: Inclusion and leadership

25 January 2025

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2024 Women in AI Fellowship: Adapting to new technologies

30 January 2025

From 7-13 April, 33 experienced women diplomats were selected as UNIDIR Women in AI Fellows. Chosen from a competitive pool of 262 applicants representing 90 countries, fellows embarked on an intensive programme that provided deep insights into the latest AI applications. Learn more about their journey.

The 2025 fellowship would not have been possible without the generous support of donors to UNIDIR’s Gender and Disarmament Programme and Security and Technology Programme – specifically Canada, Czechia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea and Switzerland. UNIDIR would also like to express its gratitude to Australia and the United Kingdom for dedicated funding for the 2025 Women in AI Fellowship.

From 27-31 May, UNIDIR held the pilot edition of the Women in AI Fellowship. From a competitive pool of 102 applicants representing 56 countries, 31 women diplomats were selected to participate in the fellowship. Fellows brought diverse perspectives and expertise, reflecting the global need for inclusive representation in AI-related discussions on international security. Learn more about their journey.

The 2024 fellowship would not have been possible without the generous support of donors to UNIDIR’s Gender and Disarmament Programme and Security and Technology Programme – specifically Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland.