Bridging the gender gap in the tech industry

From the outset, Shifaa Khalil was certain about her desire to follow her passion in technology. “When I was a kid, I had a computer. It was like my favorite toy,” she said. “I enjoyed experimenting with software.”

Shifaa’s passion for technology led her to pursue a Computer Science degree and shortly after graduating, she began teaching coding online, only to realise that it wasn’t the job she was truly passionate about. Shifaa joined the web developer boot camp offered by SPARK’s partner in Lebanon, SE Factory, through the Skills, Training and Education Programme, which is financed by the Islamic Development Bank and the Abdul Aziz al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund.

“I didn’t just enhance my technical coding skills; I also gained insights into how our brains function and improved my pitching and presentation abilities,” Shifaa remarked. Over the course of five months, she devoted herself to refining her coding skills in the extensive programme.

Shifaa described her time in the boot camp as some of the best days of her life. Each week, she learned a new aspect of web development – things like test-driven development, relational databases, UX design and project management. “It was amazing to work within groups and to create projects from scratch together,” she added.

Upon finishing the web developer bootcamp, she was matched by SE Factory to a job placement where she showcased her remarkable talent and ultimately secured a full-time position at the same company. In her role, she stands out as one of the few female developers in a team of diverse, international tech professionals.

“We can succeed in male-dominated industries”
Growing up, Shifaa saw that many girls that had taken interest in anything related to tech had been undermined or underestimated. “That isn’t fair, breaking this stereotype is a must,” Shifaa siad.  According to the International Finance Corporation’s report on the inclusion of women in the digital economy, only 23% of the digital workforce in Lebanon consists of women.

Shifaa observes a decreasing gender gap in the tech industry in Lebanon, particularly in the capital city, Beirut. However, there are still major challenges that should be addressed for more inclusivity for all women and refugees living in Lebanon. “Private companies aren’t motivated enough to seek out more female candidates, even though there are strong candidates in this field, and the absence of governmental support still holds women back from being empowered in this industry,” Shifaa explained.

SPARK’s STEP programme aims to develop a path forward for women in the digital sector throughout Lebanon and Jordan. “Programmes such as STEP can only do so much, especially during the economic crisis we live in Lebanon. Still, these courses and tech culture have to be promoted among young girls in public schools and should be integrated into school curricula,” Shifaa added. 

Working towards a future where the tech industry achieves a balanced representation of men and women, the STEP programme is providing opportunities for economic development of youth, including women and refugees, advocating for greater equity, equal salaries and flexible work arrangements to address the specific needs of women.