The World Bank Group is promoting affordable small AI solutions to improve agriculture, health and education in developing countries.
Science and Technology
NASA aerospace engineer Alinda Mashiku was born in New York then moved to Tanzania as a young girl, where she dreamed of becoming an astronaut – but reaching for the stars seemed almost an impossibility.
Today, as a Program Manager with the US space agency, she helps ensure that satellites avoid collisions in orbit, contributing to the safety and sustainability of pioneering space missions such as the record-breaking Artemis II mission around the moon earlier this month.
According to UN data, women make up only 35 per cent of science, tech, engineering and maths graduates (STEM) – figure that has not changed in the past decade.
In an interview with UN News’s Anold Kayanda from our Swahili team, Ms. Mashiku explains why girls should place no limits on their ambitions to break the STEM glass ceiling, into the stratosphere.
Global leaders, scientists, innovators and civil society representatives gather at United Nations Headquarters on 6–7 May for the 11th annual Multi‑stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum). Aligned with the Economic and Social Council’s High‑Level Political Forum, the discussions spotlight water, energy, infrastructure, cities and global partnerships, underscoring science and innovation as powerful drivers of inclusive and sustainable development. Follow the discussion live on UN Webtv.
The guidance offers advice for parents on how to talk with their teens about potential social media bans. It emphasizes choosing a calm moment, listening without judgment, and recognizing that teens may have mixed feelings ranging from frustration to relief.
It also encourages parents to validate their child’s perspective and involve them in the conversation by asking open-ended questions. Finally, it highlights the importance of maintaining strong offline connections and building healthy, balanced digital habits together as a family.
What happens when population policy meets artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and digital platforms? This question lies at the heart of the 59th session of the Commission on Population and Development (13-17 April 2026). Under the theme "Population, technology and research in the context of sustainable development", the five-day session brings together Member States, UN agencies, and civil society to chart a path forward on population policies that leave no one behind. Follow the session live on UN WebTV.
Sixteen-year-old Arleidis, a Wayúu girl from the Pushaina clan, walked hours to study software programming, determined to overcome barriers and inspire her family and community. She now uses digital tools to promote and sell their work, strengthening her community livelihood.
Exposed to the world of science, technology, engineering and mathmatics (STEM) at a young age, Leen Alaya, a 24-year old innovator from Aleppo, Syria, is on a mission to revolutionize the way children learn programming - with a little help from UNDP. “Some of my earliest memories are of accompanying my mother to work at the University, where she was a professor in the Faculty of Computer Systems Engineering,” recalls Leen. By age eight, she was participating in national informatics Olympiads and hackathons, demonstrating a keen interest in problem-solving and programming. Read all about her innovation called Voo.
Across the United Nations system, Artificial Intelligence is helping anticipate food insecurity, strengthen humanitarian response, protect oceans and promote more equitable work opportunities in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Swiss engineers at Swisspod are developing hyperloop capsules that travel up to 1,200 km/h in low-pressure tubes, aiming to make ultra-fast, affordable transport a reality within the next decade.
Global foreign direct investment rose 14% in 2025, led overwhelmingly by capital-intensive data-centre projects tied to AI growth, though gains were concentrated in developed economies and masked weaker underlying investment activity.
SENATIC is a joint initiative of Colombia’s Ministry of ICT, SENA and the ILO that equips young people such as Rafael Meza, with digital and technical skills through secondary education combined with certified training from global tech companies.
Between 2024 and 2026, the programme will train more than 60,000 students across all 32 departments of Colombia, with nearly 20 percent of beneficiaries coming from indigenous communities.
For decades, farmers have relied on chemical fertilizers, pesticides and antibiotics to enhance food production. But the rapid modernization of agriculture to meet rising demands has its perils. To solve such problems, biotechnology companies are turning to living organisms and natural materials for inspiration. And alongside their biology‑first innovations, their strategic use of intellectual property (IP) is equally important. The companies featured in this article were shortlisted in the WIPO Global Awards 2025.
Actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt says the future of digital technology must put people, creativity and purpose first, as powerful tools become more embedded in daily life. Speaking at a UN meeting on 20 years of global digital cooperation, he highlighted the responsibility to use technology for inclusion and positive change, not just profit.
In Paraguay, where nearly 8 out of 10 women have experienced some form of gender-based violence in their lives, young female scientists, athletes, musicians and others are working to fight that fate, joining an anti-violence campaign spearheaded by UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency. The initiative – ¡Quiero vivir así! Sin Violencia – uses social networks, music concerts and community activities like mural painting to raise awareness of the right to live in a world free of violence. It has garnered support from public and private sector partners, civil society organizations and sports institutions, building momentum ever since its launch in 2022. Here, young women involved with the initiative, including Jennifer - a karate champion and teacher - share their experiences and wisdom on how dreams can be achieved when girls lift each other up – and can live their lives without violence.
A UNCTAD publication shows that while AI is becoming a powerful, affordable tool for entrepreneurs in developing countries, its impact depends on supportive ecosystems, skills development and clear, innovation-friendly governance.