U.S. Office of Palestinian
Affairs

The 2023 TechWomen Program

The U.S Office of Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem Announces

The 2023 TechWomen Program

The U.S Office of Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) are pleased to announce the TechWomen 2023 program.  TechWomen is a professional exchange that directly supports the U.S. foreign policy goal of advancing the status of women and girls around the world and promotes development in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) to enable women to reach their full potential.  Approximately 110 professional women working in STEM fields from 21 countries in North Africa and the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Central Asia will travel to the United States in September 2023 for an intensive exchange focused on promoting collaboration in science and technology.  Women will select one of six tracks: information technology, green technology, science, internet, biotechnology, or telecommunications when applying.

 

The U.S.-based exchange for TechWomen participants will take place over a five-week period in in September and October 2023.  The program begins with a series of hybrid workshops focused on leadership skills, innovation and design thinking, followed by individual 15-day professional mentorship fellowships at leading innovation companies and organizations in Silicon Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Chicago.  Each participant will complete a mentorship and each participating country will work as a team with Impact Coaches to formulate an action plan to address a socioeconomic challenge in their home communities.  The teams will pitch their projects in a competition, with the winners receiving seed funding.  Participants will also engage in community service projects and participate in cultural and recreational activities within their U.S. community.  The exchange will conclude with a three-day program in Washington, D.C., where participants and mentors network and engage with Department of State officials and other women leaders in government.

 

Participant Qualifications:

• Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, the West Bank, or Gaza.
• Women with a minimum of two years full-time professional experience in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields and/or a career requiring significant expertise/knowledge/application of technology;
• Bachelor’s degree/four-year university degree or equivalent;
• Proficient in written and spoken English;
• Demonstrated willingness to participate in exchange programs, welcome opportunities for mentoring and new partnership development, and exhibit confidence and maturity;
• Not have applied for an immigrant visa to the United States, or participated in a visa lottery in the past five years;
• Proven record of voluntary or public service in their communities;
• Demonstrated track record of entrepreneurialism and commitment to innovation;
• Demonstrated themselves as emerging leaders in their chosen professional track through their work experience, volunteer experience, community activities and education.

 

Important Note:

• Participation in the program is contingent upon the applicant qualifying for a J-1 visa to travel to the United States.
• Holders of U.S. passports or green cards are not eligible to participate in this program.

 

Application Deadline and inquiries:
The application is available online and will be available online until January 13, 2023. The TechWomen website can be found at:  bit.ly/techwomen2023. 

 

For More Information:

 

Jerusalem and West Bank Applicants: For more information call 02-622-7107 or email jerusalemexchanges@state.gov.

 

Gaza Applicants: For more information, please email  JerusalemGazaexchanges@state.gov