The SAGA project aims to contribute to improving the situation of women and reducing the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields in all countries at all levels of education and research. To achieve these objectives, it determines, measures and assesses sex-disaggregated data, as well as supports the design and implementation of science, technology and innovation (STI) policy instruments that affect gender equality in STEM. Moreover, SAGA aims to analyse how policies affect the gender balance in STEM, undertake inventories of STI gender equality policies, develop new and better indicators to provide tools for evidence-based policy-making, build capacity in Member States for data collection on gender in STEM, and prepare methodological documents to support the collection of statistics.

SAGA will help to:

• Reduce the gender gap in STEM at all levels of education and research;
• Identify gaps in the policy mix and improve national STI policies related to gender, based on evidence;
• Build capacity for data collection on gender in STEM;
• Increase the visibility, participation and respect of women in STEM; and
• Improve tools to measure the status of women and girls in science.

SAGA is a global UNESCO project supported by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

STI plays a crucial role in meeting the internationally adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Unless addressed in time, women’s lack of participation in STEM fields might prevent many nations from reaching these goals.

The SAGA project contributes to the promotion of girls and women by offering tools and technical assistance to countries to attract and retain them in STEM fields. This will support directly the achievement of SDGs, especially targets:

• 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life,
• 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels, and
• 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.

By working towards these goals and harnessing women's full potential in STEM fields, countries will reach higher levels of development, increase their research output and build capacity, thereby reducing inequalities and knowledge gaps. This, in turn, will enable countries to achieve many other STI-based SDG targets.

For more information, please contact us: saga(at)unesco.org