Empowering women through technology

It is a well-known fact that women are among the most vulnerable sectors of our society, especially during the outbreak of armed conflict or when communities are hit by man-made or natural disasters.

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And with the advent of the digital age wherein the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has become the norm, there is a chance that women, especially in the countryside and places affected by conflict, could be left behind in the online revolution if they are unable to adapt and catch on.

Recognizing the Filipino women’s susceptibility to such threats and the need to address them, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (AFI) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last May 29, 2025.

The MOU was borne out of a recognition that the national government and the private sector must work together to capacitate and empower our country’s women in light of emerging realities in the peace, economic and technological front.

Given the many challenges that women continue to face, particularly the lack or absence of educational, job and livelihood opportunities, this public-private sector initiative could not have come at a better time.

Under this novel partnership, the OPAPRU and AFI have joined forces to implement Elevate AIDA, a program that will enable women in conflict-prone areas to work from the comforts of their home through remote job opportunities, freelancing, and digital entrepreneurship.