LocationsThe Women in Tech series puts the spotlight on women who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital innovations across UNDP. By sharing these inspiring individual stories, we hope to encourage others to choose this path and spur gender equality in the digital sector.
Women in Tech: From curiosity to helping shape AI at UNDP with Dharshani Seneviratne
July 8, 2025
The world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly, yet women make up just 22 per cent of the global AI workforce1. This gap represents both a lack of inclusivity and a missed opportunity in terms of the innovation that diversity brings.
In this Women in Tech issue, UNDP Data Engineer Specialist, Dharshani Seneviratne, shares how her curiosity and drive to improve lives has powered her professional journey into AI. Today, she plays a key role in integrating AI across UNDP’s operations and programmes, while advocating for its responsible and ethical use. Her mission goes far beyond digital transformation; she hopes to inspire more women to enter the AI field, break stereotypes, and help shape the solutions of tomorrow.
Paving a path in AI
"AI wasn’t what it is today, when I started there were no pre-trained AI models, you had to build your own.’ - Dharshani Seneviratne
Dharshani’s interest in technology began early, motivated by a desire to understand how digital tools can simplify and improve lives. In 2001, she began her studies in computer science at the University of Maryland, where, later on in 2007, earned a master’s degree in machine learning and software engineering. “It was during this time that I realized the potential of AI to solve real-world problems and fuel innovation”, she shared.
Following her graduation, Dharshani joined the World Bank for two years, where she worked closely with Data Chiefs, engineers, and Country Offices (COs). This experience sharpened her skills in data management and machine learning, preparing her for later roles at UNOCHA and UNICEF's Field Results Group, where she supported COs and improved humanitarian and development efforts.
Dharshani's work at UNDP
“When I joined UNDP, AI initiatives were just starting. Now, AI is integrated across many parts of our operations.” - Dharshani Seneviratne.
In 2016, Dharshani joined UNDP’s Human Development Report Office in New York, where she worked in data management. Still captivated by AI’s potential, she pursued an advanced programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gaining valuable insights into the latest developments in machine learning and AI.
When she returned to UNDP in 2022, she brought those new skills to several AI-driven projects with UNDP’s Data Management Services team. Among her key contributions is UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures Portal Chatbot, an AI-powered tool that helps UNDP staff easily search for and access policy and procedural information.
Dharshani at the Microsoft AI Tour held in New York in January 2025. The event brought together hundreds of public and private sector partners for seminars and workshops showcasing Microsoft’s latest AI technologies.
Photo: UNDP
Her work extends well beyond internal operations. Today, Dharshani collaborates with UNDP's Regional Bureau for Arab States’ Innovation Hub and the Chief Digital Office (CDO) on predictive modeling and historical data analysis, helping colleagues make faster, more informed decisions. She also assists UNDP Afghanistan with AI-based data analysis to improve decision-making and resource allocation and works with the UNDP Geospatial Information Systems team to explore how AI can enhance satellite imagery for global development projects.
In addition, she contributes to broader organizational efforts to build AI capacity, partnering with CDO, UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, and the Crisis Bureau. And as part of UNDP’s strategic AI initiative to accelerate AI adoption, she provides guidance to UNDP offices, assisting them in identifying opportunities for process optimization through the effective use of corporate AI tools.
Championing women in AI
“AI is not a technology to fear, but a tool to harness for positive change,” according to Dharshani.
While working with international organizations has shielded her from some of the challenges women face in tech, Dharshani acknowledges that women are still often underestimated in male-dominated fields. Yet, she believes that with the right skills and support, these barriers can be overcome.
She emphasizes that lasting change begins with building diverse, inclusive teams, hiring fairly, and breaking down outdated stereotypes about who belongs in tech.
With the increasing prevalence and rapid evolution of AI tools in daily life, Dharshani encourages women not to hold back and confidently engage with AI: “It’s never too late to get started; women need to be part of designing the solutions of tomorrow”.
