We need to embrace and unleash the full potential of women and girls in science for the benefit of the whole of society. This is the message of WMO's Secretary-General Celeste Saulo from a hillside overlooking a vast green plateau in Malawi.
"It's more than a mission. It's about talent and passion and work. To those who are lagging behind, they can make it. Lets go ahead," said Celeste Saulo - the first woman to head WMO - in a conversation with Lucy Mtilatila, Director of Climate Change and Meteorological Services in Malawi (DCCMS).
"Girls in Malawi often run away from science, but science is so exciting," said Lucy Mtilatila, who has become a role model and source of leadership for young women in the southeastern African nation. She is one of the growing number of women to head national meteorological services on the continent.
"I remember when I was an undergraduate, I was so alone. But I was determined and I enjoyed my science and so I went ahead. We need to be determined. We should maintain our vision till we get there," she said.
Women are leaders for resilience
As DCCMS Director, Lucy Mtilatila is leading a multi-partner project funded by the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems Initiative to build resilience and strengthen early warnings in Malawi.
The CREWS Malawi project has deliberately ensured that women and youth are at the center of disaster preparedness. In the localities of Zomba and Mzuzu - where activities are focussed - women represented the majority of participants in risk assessments and training sessions and showed strong ownership of early warning systems.
Younger women, in particular, were among the fastest to act on flood warnings, becoming trusted messengers within their communities. By integrating gender-sensitive training, encouraging women's participation in Disaster Risk Management Committees, and promoting inclusive communication channels, the project is helping ensure that early warning systems reach and empower everyone.
Celeste Saulo said she was inspired by women's leadership at community level in disaster risk management in Malawi, where she is attending the CREWS Steering Committee Meeting, alongside donors and UN and development partners.
Her observations were shared by Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
"When women lead, disaster risk management initiatives are rooted in the daily reality of everyday life. Women mobilise the knowledge, resourcefulness and initiative of the community. No one is left behind. Above all, disaster risk management is pursued with a sense of joy," he said .
Malawi reflects the progress made in countries all over the world in promoting women to leadership positions, both at community and national level.
Mtilatila is one of the growing number of women to head national meteorological services in Africa and act as Permanent Representative to WMO.
In the discussion with Celeste Saulo, she recalled her early career. She was asked by the then director of the meteorological department what her ambition was.
"One day I will be director," she replied.
Continuing Hurdles
Despite advances in access to education, women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are still held back by a lack of research funding, gender stereotypes, and discriminatory workplace practices. Globally, only one in three researchers is female.
This gap is particularly pronounced in the realm of technology, with women representing just 26% of the workforce in data and artificial intelligence, and only 12% in cloud computing, according to UN figures.
"Excluding women from science weakens our collective capacity to address urgent global challenges, from climate change to public health to space security. To solve these problems, we must ensure that every girl can imagine a future in STEM, and that every woman can thrive in her scientific career," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
