Partnership launched to advance gender equality in the Philippines’ tech sector through the Gender Action Lab

[Press release]

Manila, Philippines — UN Women and the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) have launched a strategic partnership to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in the country’s dynamic technology sector.

This collaboration holds special significance, marking UN Women’s first formal private sector partnership in the Philippines.

IBPAP is the first partner in the Philippines to join the UN Women Gender Action Lab (GAL): Innovation and Impact for Gender Equality in Asia-Pacific, a regional innovation platform supported by the Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Over an initial two-year period, UN Women and IBPAP will focus on promoting gender equality in private sector engagement by addressing the persistent ‘action gap’, where commitments often fail to translate into tangible outcomes.

“We recognize the critical role of the private sector in advancing women’s economic empowerment and accelerating gender equality,” said Ma. Rosalyn Mesina, Country Programme Coordinator, UN Women Philippines. “We’re thrilled about partnering with IBPAP, as it presents a significant opportunity to support women’s participation and leadership in the country’s rapidly growing tech sector and to increase the recognition of women as key contributors to the economy.”

Building on the foundations of previous UN Women-led programmes, including the European Union-funded WeEmpowerAsia, GAL helps accelerate gender-responsive business practices in alignment with the globally recognized Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) throughout the Asia-Pacific region. As of July 2025, there are 200 WEPs signatories in the Philippines, demonstrating a strong and growing private sector commitment to gender equality.

As a first step, UN Women and its partners will identify, recruit and build the capacities of companies to participate in a flagship initiative under the GAL platform: the WEPs Corporate Action Lab. Launching next month in the Philippines, this initiative will focus on increasing women’s leadership in corporate settings, with particular emphasis on the tech sector.

A new cohort-based initiative, the WEPs Corporate Action Lab will bring together companies to develop strategies that advance their gender equality goals, ultimately enhancing business performance through innovation, greater efficiency, and improved talent acquisition and retention.

“We’re honoured to partner with UN Women as their inaugural private sector collaborator in the Philippines,” said Ma. Rhodora “Ayhee” Campos, Chairperson of IBPAP and Chair and Co-Convenor of Women in Action @ IT-BPM. 

“Through the Gender Action Lab, we will be driving transformative change, empowering women to lead, excel and thrive. By investing in gender inclusion, we’re shaping a stronger future for our workforce and the industry,” she added.

This partnership aligns with IBPAP’s Women in Action @ IT-BPM (Information Technology and Business Process Management), a pioneering initiative that provides women in the IT-BPM sector with essential resources, mentorship and career advancement opportunities, fostering a supportive environment for growth.

“The true measure of our progress will not just be in the number of women we see leading today, but in how many more women are empowered and supported to take on those roles tomorrow,” said Celeste Ilagan, Chief Operating Officer of IBPAP and Co-Chair and Co-Convenor of Women in Action @ IT-BPM.

“This partnership with UN Women is about creating lasting impacts and building pathways for women to rise, contribute and lead with confidence in the highly competitive tech sector. Our work has only just begun,” said Ilagan.

Despite strong overall performance and recent progress, women’s representation in leadership remains low. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, women make up 29 per cent of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce, but only 12 per cent occupy C-suite positions.

Bridging this gender gap is both a matter of equity and a strategic imperative. Empowering more women to rise into leadership roles is not only a social responsibility but also a powerful opportunity to strengthen economic competitiveness and build a more inclusive economy.

The Call for Applications for the WEPs Corporate Action Lab Philippines: Advancing Women’s Leadership in Technology was launched in June, with the first cohort of participating companies due to be announced in August 2025.