South-South: Empowering and Growing Women-led Business Session N°8

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming economies and reshaping the future of work. Yet, access to and adoption of these technologies remain uneven, particularly along gender and geographic lines. Women are approximately 25% less likely than men to adopt AI, often due to lower confidence levels, limited access to digital tools and skills[1]. These disparities are further exacerbated in developing countries and in particular in agrifood and rural sectors. In low-income countries, only 27% of the population is online, with women facing the highest exclusion rates., reflecting persistent challenges related to infrastructure, affordability, and digital literacy[2].

As a result, only a small share of the workforce is currently exposed to AI, despite global estimates suggesting that up to half of all jobs will require reskilling in the coming years. Beyond access, AI adoption depends on key enabling conditions, including the availability of relevant skills, access to quality data, affordable technologies, and clear regulatory frameworks. Without these foundations, there is a risk that AI could reinforce existing inequalities rather than reduce them.

At the same time, the rapid expansion of Generative AI (designed to create new content rather than just analyze or process existing data) presents both an opportunity and a challenge. While adoption is accelerating globally, with approximately 75% of knowledge workers already using such tools[3], important gender gaps persist. Only around 23% of women report using Generative AI tools at work[4], compared to significantly higher rates among men. This highlights the urgency of ensuring that women entrepreneurs are not left behind in the current wave of technological transformation.

As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape economies, ensuring that women entrepreneurs—particularly in the Global South, can access, adopt, and shape these technologies is both an equity imperative and an economic opportunity. Addressing gender gaps in AI is critical not only to prevent the deepening of inequalities, but also to unlock the full potential of women-led businesses as drivers of innovation, growth, and resilience in an increasingly digital economy.

This webinar will bring together women entrepreneurs, practitioners, and experts to explore how AI can be leveraged by and for women entrepreneurs. Through shared experiences and practical insights, the discussion will highlight how women are already using AI in their businesses, the challenges they face, and the types of support, partnerships, and policies needed to foster more inclusive AI adoption.

[1] UN. 2025. Artificial intelligence unleashed: Transforming the entrepreneurial scene in developing countries.

[2] IMF. 2024. Gen-AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work

[3] Microsoft. 2024. AI at Work Is Here. Now Comes the Hard Part.

[4] World Bank Group. 2025. Digital Progress and Trends Report 2025.