VIENNA, Austria: The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Dawood Global Foundation (DGF) through its LADIESFUND Educate a Girl initiative signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Vienna International Centre, headquarters of UNOOSA, during a high-level side event held on the margins of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS), a two week summit.
The signing took place as part of the concluding event of the Space4Women Landmark Study on Gender Equality in the Space Sector (2024–2026), a three-year global initiative led by UNOOSA with the support of the Republic of Korea to assess and advance gender equality across the international space ecosystem.
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between UNOOSA and the Dawood Global Foundation to facilitate internship and professional development opportunities for young women from Pakistan and other countries pursuing careers in the space sector, helping to expand pathways for greater female participation in science, technology, engineering, space research, and leadership.
Opening the event, Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of UNOOSA, welcomed participants from governments, space agencies, academia, and international organizations.
During the signing ceremony, she stated, “We are most happy to sign an MoU with the Dawood Global Foundation, which contributes to the objective of UNOOSA of increasing training and professional opportunities for young women aspiring to a career in the space sector”.
The ceremony was held before a full-house audience in M3 of the Vienna International Centre and marked one of the key outcomes of the Space4Women initiative’s final implementation phase, focused on ensuring long-term sustainability and measurable progress toward gender equality in the space sector.
Following the signing, Ms. Tara Uzra Dawood, Founder and President of the Dawood Global Foundation, gave a speech highlighting the importance of ensuring that girls and young women from Pakistan and across the developing world are represented in the future of space exploration, research, innovation, and leadership.
She emphasized that Pakistani girls possess extraordinary talent and potential and must be given access to global opportunities, mentorship, training, and international platforms to contribute to humanity’s next frontier.
The event also received strong support from international partners.
Gunhee Park, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Division of the Korean Aerospace Administration (KASA), remarked:
“Tara’s speech was very inspiring , particularly Pakistani female origin astronaut Namira Salim. Congratulations to UNOOSA and DGF LADIESFUND!”
Closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez, Director General of the Philippine Space Agency, who congratulated Ms. Tara Uzra Dawood and the Dawood Global Foundation on the partnership and its potential to create meaningful opportunities for young women worldwide.
The initiative also attracted interest from other national space agencies seeking future collaboration. Speaking during the event, Márcia Alvarenga, Head of International Cooperation at the Brazilian Space Agency, stated:
“We are very glad that Dawood Global Foundation LADIESFUND is identifying and facilitating women interns from Pakistan and other countries to be part of UNOOSA and we are looking forward to discussing possible partnerships with Dawood Global and LADIESFUND with Brazil.”
The MoU represents a significant milestone for Pakistan’s engagement in international space and STEM advancement efforts and underscores the growing role of Pakistani in creating global opportunities for women and girls.
The partnership aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to gender equality, quality education, and international cooperation, while contributing to UNOOSA’s mission of ensuring that the benefits of space are accessible to all humanity.
