Emna Aouij

Pioneering Tunisian tech entrepreneur who empowered women through digital innovation

Emna Aouij (born 1975) is a Tunisian computer scientist and entrepreneur who made groundbreaking contributions to women's empowerment through technology. As founder of the Tunisian Women's Association for Research and Development (AWRED), she created programs that trained over 15,000 women in ICT skills between 1995-2010. Her work laid the foundation for Tunisia's tech sector growth while addressing gender disparities through initiatives like the 'Women & Technology' national conference series.

Aouij's development of the first Arabic-language educational software suite in 1998 revolutionized computer education in North Africa. Her company, eWomen Network, established the region's first online marketplace for women entrepreneurs, connecting 3,000+ businesses by 2005. She pioneered the use of mobile banking solutions for rural women, a concept later adopted by major financial institutions.

Her advocacy led to Tunisia's first national policy on gender equality in STEM fields (2003), which increased female university enrollment in tech disciplines from 12% to 34% by 2010. Aouij's work has been featured in UN Women reports and the BBC.