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Applications Are Open For The 2025 WiSER Pioneers Program
The initiative offers women professionals from around the globe the chance to join a 1-year program focused on sustainability and leadership.
The Women in Sustainability, Environment, and Renewable Energy (WiSER) initiative, created by Masdar and the Zayed Sustainability Prize, has officially opened applications for its 2025 WiSER Pioneers Program.
Focused on empowering women to lead the global shift toward a net-zero future, the WiSER Pioneers Program provides participants with the skills and knowledge required to drive impactful change.
Originally launched in 2018, the year-long program offers women from around the world access to specialized educational workshops and global networking opportunities with industry experts, aiming to help them achieve their untapped potential. Since its inception, over 130 women from more than 30 countries have successfully completed WiSER Pioneers.

Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Program Director of WiSER, said: “The Pioneers Program is a cornerstone of WiSER’s enduring commitment to empowering young women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead the charge toward a sustainable future. Since its inception in October 2018, the Pioneers Program has been equipping participants to become bold leaders in the global energy transition and creating a supportive community of talented sustainability professionals”.
The program is open to women between the ages of 25 and 35 who have at least two years of work experience and hold a degree in a field related to the environment, energy, sustainability, or STEM disciplines. Applicants must be currently employed or self-employed.
The WiSER Pioneers Program is designed to offer a broad range of activities aimed at building skills, advancing careers, and fostering connections. Key components of the course include tailored workshops and training sessions that focus on sustainability, clean energy, and leadership development.
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Participants in the program also get to engage in the annual WiSER Cares initiative, which focuses on community development through cultural exchange. For example, in 2024, 18 participants took part in a five-day program on adaptive agriculture in Marrakesh, Morocco.
In addition, WiSER is an active participant in major global sustainability events such as Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) and the COP conferences. These events offer participants valuable opportunities to learn, contribute to critical discussions, and network with global industry leaders, policymakers, and sustainability professionals.
To apply for a place on the WiSER Pioneers Program, head to the website.
News
Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform
Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.
Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.
The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.
Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.
Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.
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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.
“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.
Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.
