Read about Fatuma Mohamed Dida

What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?

My journey into the technology career at the United Nations was motivated by the desire to challenge the stereotype that technology and engineering are exclusively male domains. To counter this notion, I delved into STEM, immersing myself in the sciences with a profound sense of fascination, interest, and passion. Within the broad spectrum of technology, my specific focus centers on server administration. This career choice not only aligns with my personal interests but also represents a commitment to breaking barriers and contributing to a more inclusive and diverse technological landscape within the United Nations.

What has been your favorite technology project or initiative at the United Nations and why? What was your contribution?

My most cherished IT project at the United Nations (MONUSCO) has been serving as the tool ambassador and focal point at Lava /Bravo Site (GOMA) for the integration, implementation, testing and enhancement of the tool dedicated to monitoring hate speech. This significant initiative, shared by various organizations, leverages natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to identify hate speech, offensive language, and discriminatory content in text. Notably, the tool supports multilingual capabilities, effectively addressing diverse linguistic contexts, and its algorithm calculates and digitizes social sentiment, toxicity, threat, identity attack, insult, and profanity within specific posts from various social media platforms. Simultaneously, for my favorite IT project at the United Nations, I delved into the Safecom printing service and its associated management of printing resources. My technical contribution included understanding and implementing efficient ways to manage and track printing activities. The Safecom system allows convenient printing from one's computer, coupled with flexibility in retrieving documents from a nearby shared printer. Security measures, such as a required PIN for the printing process, enhance a secure and controlled printing environment. This project is particularly noteworthy for its focus on environmental concerns by reducing paper wastage and promoting resource sharing among UN personnel, displaying how thoughtful technological solutions align with the UN's commitment to responsible resource management and efficiency.

What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?

Technology is ever-evolving, and failure is often a catalyst to success. Do not be afraid to take risks and make mistakes. View each challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.