The Canada-ASEAN Inclusive AI Governance programme launches its online platform, opening free certified training to women in all 11 ASEAN member states from 26 October 2026.

Algorithms now help decide who gets a loan, which seller appears first on a marketplace, and how a worker's performance is scored. For millions of women across Southeast Asia, AI is already part of earning a living. Yet women are rarely consulted on how these systems affect them, or on the rules that govern them.

The Canada-ASEAN Inclusive AI Governance for Women's Economic Empowerment programme was created to change that. Convened by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the programme has now launched its official website: a single home for learning, events and participation.

Built on what women told us

The programme began by listening. A survey of more than 750 women across ASEAN, conducted in 15 languages and supported by interviews with community leaders, mapped how AI is affecting women's livelihoods. The findings point to four pressing areas: access to credit and markets, scams and deceptive media, workplace automation, and women's exclusion from the policies that shape their income, data and safety online.

Those findings now shape every stage that follows.

Eight free modules, one certificate

From 26 October to 29 November 2026, women can take eight short, practical online modules at their own pace, free of charge. Topics include understanding AI, staying safe online, growing a business with AI, knowing your rights at work, navigating gig work when "your boss is an algorithm", beating AI-powered scams, guarding against AI fraud, and making your voice heard in AI governance. Each module opens with a message from an inspiring community representative, and participants who complete the course receive a certificate. Top learners will be recognised at an online closing ceremony in early December.

From community voices to regional policy

Alongside the course, ten community consultations with more than 150 women will test the research findings and surface the support women need. Their insights will feed a policy dialogue on 17 December 2026, bringing community representatives together with more than 60 policymakers and industry leaders. The programme culminates in a regional policy brief and toolkit for inclusive AI governance, to be launched at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on 25 February 2027. Both events are open to the public.

Who should join

The programme is designed for women entrepreneurs and MSME owners, platform and gig workers, and women professionals and organisations, in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. Community organisations are also invited to join as partners and will be credited in programme publications.

Participation is free and voluntary, and all responses are anonymised and protected under the programme's safeguarding and data-protection commitments.

Register today

Registration takes about two minutes. Sign up at https://www.aseanbac-cfli.com