SOME 100 female emerging technology leaders from 20 countries are to undergo a five-week mentoring and professional development programme in the United States.

The project will provide them the access and opportunity needed to advance their careers, pursue their dreams, and inspire women and girls in their communities. Google, Twitter and the Chan Zuckerburg Biohub are among more than 30 leading tech companies in San Francisco and Silicon Valley that are hosting emerging women leaders in science and technology.

The beneficiaries have been selected from from Africa, Central and South Asia and the Middle East have been selected from nearly 4 000 applicants. The emerging women leaders will work in projects at their host companies and attend workshops with program partners to develop projects that address socioeconomic issues back home in their communities.

More than half of this year’s 100 Techwomen Emerging Leaders have an advanced degree, and 14 are chief executive officers or founders of a company. They are hailing from Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, the Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe.