Nonprofit Launches Initiative To Upskill African Women
Airtel Africa Foundation has announced the launch of its ‘Tech For Her’ Program, an initiative giving young women across Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya skills in tech. The philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa plc will help women gain the necessary knowledge to thrive in industries such as Linux Administration, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics.
Those eligible to take part in the program will complete over 100 hours of intensive training through a flexible learning model that includes weekend classes for working professionals and weekday sessions for non-working participants. The initiative aligns with the Foundation’s mission to empower Africa through Digital Inclusion.
“Africa’s digital revolution cannot reach its full potential without gender equity. The Tech For Her program helps to level the playing field by providing women with industry-relevant skills, mentorship, and pathways to high-growth tech roles around the world,” Chair of Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, said.
Providing African women with tech skills
For every 100 men with spreadsheet skills in sub-Saharan Africa, only 40 to 44 women have the same proficiency, according to UNESCO. Additionally, only 17.3% of African tech startups have at least one female co-founder, and female CEOs lead just 11.1% of these startups, according to the “Diversity Dividend: Exploring Gender Equality in the African Tech Ecosystem 2024 report.
To be eligible for the training, candidates are required to have basic digital literacy, a minimum education of a national diploma or its equivalent in Science and Technology, or higher qualifications.
Women who graduate from the programme will receive 12 months of continuous skill development support, and top performers will qualify for internship opportunities at Airtel Africa and structured mentorship from technology industry leaders.
The “Tech For Her” initiative
The initiative was officially unveiled in Uganda at a function held at Kawempe Public Library. Resty Ayona, Head of Performance and Rewards at Airtel Uganda, hosted the event alongside her team, who demonstrated how to access the training online to women who were in attendance.
““We live in a world where algorithms shape our lives, apps build empires, and data drives economies. Yet, for many young women in Uganda, access to this digital revolution remains out of reach — blocked by gender bias, limited access, and a lack of opportunity,” Ayona said, according to Chimp Reports.
Image: Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority
