About JA Americas

CLOSING THE GENDER GAP IN TECHNOLOGY REQUIRES EVIDENCE

She's Digital a regional initiative of Junior Achievement Americas that aims to train, certify, and empower young women in vulnerable situations to pursue careers in technology. 

The program addresses a structural gap: the low participation of women in the IT sector, which is driven by social, economic, and educational barriers.

Download the study

Impact that is measured grows

Between October 2025 and January 2026 , an impact assessment of the first edition of the program—conducted in partnership with IDB Lab— was carried out with the aim of identifying concrete outcomes in terms of employability, income, confidence, and skills development, as well as assessing how well the program aligns with actual demand in the technology job market.

Regional scope and training model

The program trained young women from six countries using a comprehensive model that combines technical training, social-emotional skills, and support for entering the workforce.

Women receiving scholarships, by country

[Map of the first edition of She's Digital]

Women receiving scholarships, by country
Two educational paths
  • Cybersecurity
  • Web Development
International certifications
  • CISCO Cybersecurity (CCST)
  • AWS
  • Cloud Computing
Program components
  • Technical training
  • Social-emotional skills
  • Mentoring
  • Support for Employment

Through the program, I learned a new technical language from scratch and developed key social-emotional skills, supported by a team of multidisciplinary, empathetic, and dedicated professionals who encouraged me not to give up.

Participant, She's Digital

Women committed to a future in technology

KEY FACTS
graduates in cybersecurity
0
graduates in Web Development
0

Challenging contexts, high potential for impact

56%

They live in situations of housing insecurity

36%


s are in charge

26%

They are the heads of

85%

Is unemployed at the time of admission

Co-created with IDB Lab, the program aims to support the development of young women, ​ aged 18–29, who have high potential but face barriers to accessing opportunities. ​

There is a critical mismatch between the supply of female talent and market demand. She's Digital to bridge this gap through a comprehensive model.

Thanks to She's Digital , I feel more confident in my decisions She's Digital . It encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and trust that I can build the career I want.

Participant, She's Digital

The program builds confidence and self-efficacy

KEY INDICATORS

La autoeficacia es el principal habilitador de la empleabilidad. Sin confianza, la formación técnica no alcanza.

SELF-CONFIDENCE

Greater self-efficacy and confidence

TEAMWORK

Positive collaboration in diverse work environments

COMMUNICATION

Oral and written communication in professional settings

TROUBLESHOOTING


l critical thinking applied to real-world challenges

ADAPTING TO CHANGE

Resilience in the Face of New Environments and Technologies

PROACTIVITY

Submitting resumes and actively seeking opportunities

Technical skills can be learned, but social-emotional skills are harder to develop. The fact that the program addresses both is a huge advantage.

Participant, She's Digital

FROM TRAINING TO ACTUAL EMPLOYABILITY

Once the technical training is complete, the program begins a specific mentoring phase focused on employability and the transition to the job market.

female employees work in technology roles
0 %
in its average revenue growth
+ 0 %

This wasn't just a transfer of knowledge. It was a mutual learning experience that reaffirms
the enormous potential of women in technology.

Mentor, She's Digital
ADDITIONAL IMPACT

Access to formal employment

formal employment graph

+19 points

Improvements in working conditions: access to formal employment rose from 12% to 31%

Tras pasar por el programa, las mujeres registran mejoras en la tasa de empleo formal y aumento en el promedio de ingresos. El programa mejora el acceso al empleo y la calidad.

The certification opened many doors for me. Today I work in a tech role in my country, and that has completely changed my life.

Participant, She's Digital

A program tailored to market demand

The study analyzed 79,244 job searches across six countries, focusing on three major job sites.

technology searches
0
They were looking for junior candidates (with no experience or ≤ 1 year of experience)
0 %
mentioned social-emotional skills
0 %

Este contexto refuerza la relevancia de iniciativas como Mujer Digital, que buscan reducir barreras de entrada estructurales.

MOST COMMONLY MENTIONED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS
Customer Service
29%
Leadership
21%
Teamwork
25%
Flexibility and adaptability
19%

Gender and age bias still persists in the sector. Programs like She's Digital break down those barriers through targeted training and the development of skilled talent.

Project Manager, She's Digital

Evidence to demonstrate the impact

The results confirm that She's Digital an effective intervention for reducing gender gaps, improving employability, and strengthening the economic independence of young women in vulnerable situations.

Impact panel
Impact Dashboard
Demand for talent
Talent Demand Dashboard