Unlike ten years in the past, extra Africans are discovering jobs in tech right this moment. However, the disparity in alternatives to study and start a profession in tech between males and women is large. According to a 2021 report on the Africa Developer Ecosystem by Google and Accenture [pdf], 85 per cent of builders on the continent are males, with 15 per cent being women. While Africa is dropping a few of its builders attributable to world demand, there is nonetheless a gradual rise within the variety of folks becoming a member of the ecosystem, and extra women are discovering new profession paths in tech, due to Tech4Dev.
Now in its sixth yr, Tech4Dev, based by Diwura Oladepo and Joel Ogunsola, is bridging the digital literacy hole in Africa. The not-for-profit organisation’s core focus has been enhancing women’s entry to careers in tech by way of a partnership with Microsoft and the Islamic Development Bank.
On the International Girls in ICT Day for 2023, Tech4Dev introduced its Women Techsters Fellowship for the category of 2024, which begins in September 2023. The initiative “is aimed at bridging the wide gender divide between men and women in the technology ecosystem as well as ensuring equal access to opportunities for all,” Oladepo reaffirmed in her keynote tackle on the announcement.
She additionally famous that the Women Techsters Initiative had stepped out of its birthplace in Nigeria and grown its footprint throughout Africa by supporting extra women with tech abilities and growing their employability and even doubling their earnings. “From impacting just 2,400 women in Nigeria through its pilot program, the Nigerian Women Techsters, to most recently impacting 89,153 women in 2023 through our various Women Techsters sub-programs which notably comprises the Women Techsters Fellowship, Bootcamps, Masterclass which are our training programs, and the Women Techsters Open-Day and Tech-Girls Drive, which are our advocacy programs.”
The fellowship is a one-year “experiential learning technology upskilling program.” It empowers younger ladies and women between 16 to 40 years throughout Africa with world in-demand abilities starting from digital, deep tech, and comfortable abilities, that are important to kickstart a profession within the tech ecosystem. During the fellowship, members bear intensive coaching for six months, then proceed on an internship for an additional six months and enrollment right into a mentorship. This course of goals to assist to equip them with abilities to construct tech careers and tech-enabled companies—all at no cost.
Class of 2024
For final yr’s Women Techsters Fellowship, Tech4Dev graduated 847 women from 15 African nations after accepting 1,398 members from 14,782 purposes. This yr, the organisation is going a step additional by extending its footprint into 22 nations on the continent. “The class of 2024 will admit a total of 3,000 women and girls into the program from 22 African countries. We invite women and girls from across Africa to seize this opportunity and take their place as change-makers in Africa’s technology ecosystem by applying to be a part of the program,” Oladepo introduced.
The members will come from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, DR. Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Algeria, Sudan, Morocco, Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, Rwanda, Liberia, Botswana, Zambia Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Gambia. “All the participants will have to be virtually present for their classes as the fellowship is not a learn-at-your-pace programme. The different instructors will be in each of the classes they will be taking,” Blessing Ashi, Women Techsters Program Lead, Tech4Dev, famous.
While Tech4Dev prides itself in offering entry for women into tech roles by way of coaching, the Women Techsters Fellowship goes additional to supply a chance for members to work together and interact with alumni who went by way of the programme. “We provide a space for women to interact with people who may be in the same situation as them. We also take into consideration the conditions of the participants; they could be pregnant or have other issues. All this is considered in order for them to be able to fully participate in the programme,” Ashi stated in response to a query from the press.
Looking into the long run
As a part of offering entry for women into tech roles, Oladepo additionally hinted on the Women Techsters Initiative launching the Women Techsters Entrepreneurship incubator later within the yr. It would facilitate the event of women-led know-how companies in Africa.
It is price noting that a lot of the nations taking part within the 2023 fellowship have English as their official language. However, Oladepo and Ashi identified that there is a bit for people from different African nations not listed within the utility. Applicants shall be examined on their use of English because it is the language of instruction through the fellowship. Oladepo said that the nations chosen have been primarily based on “data and learnings from previous years” however assured that different nations shall be coated, which is according to Tech4Dev’s objectives.
“The Women Techsters journey is not just a commitment, it’s a bold mission to break down the barriers that hold women back from the thriving world of technology,” Oladepo stated. “We will continue this course until we achieve a 50-50 gender parity ratio between men and women in the African technology ecosystem. This audacious goal may seem impossible to some, but we will push boundaries, defy expectations, and lead the charge towards a future where women have equal representation and opportunities in tech.”
…. to be continued
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