The promotion of the effective role of woman worldwide requires a qualitative and quantitative improvement in education and training opportunities that are available to her. Also gives her a comprehensive role in the development of society on both social and economic level. Given the urgent need to integrate women in all aspects of the sustainable development process, and to let science and technology be the asset and the common property for the benefit of the community without distinction. The International Science Conference, organized by the United Nations for Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in collaboration with other organizations and bodies in Budapest, Hungary from 26 June to July 1st, 1999 has recommended the need to establish global and regional networks of women scientists, in order to take the efforts, innovations and achievements of the women in the fields of science and culture, as well as recognizing and disseminating them. Moreover to allow them adding a new perspective for scientific research and development in their countries.
Based on the ongoing efforts to provide equal opportunities for the participation of Arab women in the fields of science and technology and with the recognition of the growing role of Arab women in this regard; in order to exploit all the capabilities and competencies of Arab women to keep pace with the rapid technological changes that serves in building the scientific Arab community, and to contribute in achieving sustainable development in the Arab world; came the initiative of establishing of "the Arab Network for Women in Science and Technology", with support from UNESCO Office in Cairo and the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain. The Proclamation of this network came through an inaugural meeting that was held in regional Rehab Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain, in the 6th to 7th of February 2005, and was attended by nearly 150 researchers from the researcher and most Arab countries, and representatives of several international and regional organizations.
Moreover, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Arab Organization for Education, Science and Cultural Organization (ALECSO), and the Arab Academy of Sciences, the Arab Science and Technology, Arab Women Organization and the Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development System played a vital role in the material and moral support in the establishment of the network, and the financing aid of many posts to attend the founding meeting. Based on what has been agreed upon in the founding meeting of the need to rotate the Secretariat of the Network among the states members, it has been relocated to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on February 3rd, 2010. In return, a Memorandum of Understanding between Dr. Rafeaa Ghobash, President of the Arab Network for Women in Science and Technology, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Office of UNESCO in Cairo, and the Academy of Sciences for the developing countries (TWAS) had been signed.