Airtel Africa Foundation has unveiled a new initiative aimed at equipping young women in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia with in-demand technology skills to boost their chances in the global job market.
The programme, known as Tech For Her, targets women aged between 18 and 40 years and will focus on training in areas such as Linux Administration, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics.
According to the foundation, the five-week training will be conducted fully online and will combine flexible schedules for both working professionals and women who are currently not employed.
The training will be carried out in partnership with Tertiary DNS and will require participants to commit to more than 100 hours of learning.
Upon completion, graduates will continue to receive skills development support for 12 months. Those who excel and score above 90 per cent will qualify for internships at Airtel Africa and access structured mentorship from technology industry leaders.
To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate basic digital literacy and hold at least a national diploma in science and technology or higher qualifications.
Chair of Airtel Africa Foundation, Segun Ogunsanya, said the programme is designed to reduce the gender gap in Africa’s digital economy.
“Africa’s digital revolution cannot reach its full potential without gender equity,” Ogunsanya explained.
Adding;
“The Tech For Her programme helps to level the playing field by providing women with industry-relevant skills, mentorship, and pathways to high-growth tech roles around the world. By investing in Africa’s women, we are investing in sustainable economic transformation.”
He added that the Foundation will reserve 30 per cent of the training slots for women in rural and underserved communities, while 40 per cent will go to women from low-income households.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of a significant gender gap in technology across the continent. UNESCO figures show that only 30 per cent of tech professionals in sub-Saharan Africa are women, and just 2 to 8 per cent of them work in software development roles.
Annika Poutiainen, a committee member at Airtel Africa Foundation, noted that the organisation is determined to see women at the forefront of Africa’s tech transformation.
“At Airtel Africa, we are actively working to advance women in technology roles, and we are committed to a future where young women can be at the forefront of innovation,” she said.
Adding;
“In running this programme, Airtel Africa Foundation is creating a pipeline of female tech leaders who will help unlock the vast digital opportunities both at home, in Africa, and further afield.”
Applications for the first intake are open until August 21, 2025. Interested participants can apply through Airtel country websites in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.
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