Sumaiyya Nyansige, who secured her current position as a Security Consultant, credits her success to her involvement in the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) during its 2nd cohort. She shared that the skills she gained through the program expanded her network and connected her with potential employers who recognized her qualifications. This aligns with the theme discussed in the recent webinar, ‘How Women are Shaping the Future of Technology,’ organized by UN Women and Safaricom.”

With over 200 participants, the two-hour webinar brought together key stakeholders, industry leaders, and experts to discuss the critical role women play in driving technological innovation and fostering inclusive growth. A sobering statistic revealed during the webinar was that on a global scale, 69% of men are using the Internet compared to just 63% of women as of 2022. This translates to 259 million more men than women using the Internet.

In her remarks, the outgoing UN Women Kenya Country Representative, Ms. Anna Mutavati, underscored the importance of amplifying women’s voices within the ICT sector. She recognized that platform like webinars provide invaluable opportunities for women leaders in technology to share their experiences and inspire future generations.

Other keynote speakers included Donna Rege, Senior Manager, IT Business and Governance Head, Women in Technology at Safaricom and Wanja Murekio, Regional Project Portfolio Manager, Old Mutual who served as the event’s Chief Guest.

Bridging the digital gender divide is vital for advancing an inclusive digital future. Collaboration among stakeholders and the sharing of knowledge are critical to driving meaningful change.

The webinar’s panel discussion, Why Inclusivity Must Be at the Heart of Innovation and Technology, featured insights from Mumbi Ndungu (Executive Director, Power Learn Project), Anie Akpe (Founder, African Women in Tech), Queenie Meria (Programme Associate, UN Women), Catherine Wangari (Senior Product Manager, Turaco), and AnnMaria Kerubo (AGCCI Graduate).

Barriers to Participation

Despite progress in technological development women and girls continue to face significant barriers to participation, such as limited access to education and exclusion from decision-making spaces. Addressing these challenges will ensure that women not only participate in the digital space but also take on leadership roles in shaping its future.

Initiatives and Programs Making Impact

UN Women is actively creating pathways for women and girls to access the technology world. In partnership with the African Union Commission, International Telecommunication Union, and Siemens, UN Women runs the AGCCI Initiative which targets girls in the age bracket of 17 to 25 years.

AGCCI takes a wholistic approach focusing on 3 key areas:

Skills Development – The program equips girls with digital literacy, coding, robotics, and other technical skills to prepare them for careers in technology.
Access to Equipment – Upon completing the AGCCI coding camp, each graduate receives a laptop and six months of internet access to kickstart their journey in innovation and technology.
Mentorship and Networking – The Siemens EmpowerHer Program provides six months of mentorship, offering both technical and life skills to help the girls thrive in the workforce.

In 2023 alone, the program has trained 112 girls from across Kenya’s 47 counties. Each participant received a laptop, internet access, and a six-month mentorship after graduation.

“The fulfillment of SDG 5, Gender Equality, requires commitment to mentorship, which creates a ripple effect that will last for generations,” said Catherine Wangari.

Betty Mwende, an alumnus of the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI), has made a significant impact by imparting basic digital literacy to fifth and sixth graders in Meru County, thanks to a $1,000 award from the Mastercard Foundation. ‘Watching these kids engage with computers for the very first time is nothing short of magical,’ she shared.”

Way Forward

“It will take a collaborative effort to create a conducive environment where both girls and boys can thrive in ICT,” said Donna Regge.

Anie Akpe reiterated that sustained consultations among stakeholders are essential for defining the pathway toward segmented investments and inclusive policies that empower women in ICT.

Anna Mutavati emphasized the need for fostering an environment that encourages participation and provides necessary resources, striving for a future where women not only participate in technology spaces, but lead from the front.

“By embracing persistence and the desire to change the status quo, you earn a seat at the table,” concluded Wanja Murekio.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

As part of efforts to ensure sustainable access to clean electricity and other forms of sustainable ener-gy for the people of West Africa, ECOWAS, in partnership with the European Union, shared the achievements of the EU-ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Scholarship Programme with researchers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana during an interactive as-sessment visit on 20 September 2024.

Through this partnership, ECOWAS offered fully funded Masters scholarships by the European Union in the sustainable energy sector to eligible candidates from ECOWAS Member States in 9 specialized institutions in West Africa countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo, Ghana, and Cape Verde. The programme aims to improve access to high-quality training in the sustainable energy sector in West Africa, enabling university graduates with a focus on young professionals (English, French and Portuguese speaking) in the ECOWAS member states, to acquire the profile required to meet the growing demand for specialists, at the highest level, in the field of sustainable energy and to promote good governance of the sector in the region.

During this visit Mr. Chikodi Onyemerela, Director of Programmes of British Council (Nigeria) stated that since the launch of the scholarship programme in November 2022, the programme has successfully supported 15 students from Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Benin who completed their study in Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte D’Ivoire, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Ghana to advance the course of their careers in the energy sector. The scholarship programme has benefitted eligible students from 11 ECOWAS member states with relevant background in sustainable energy. The target is that 75 young researchers from the ECOWAS Region to benefit from advanced knowledge for the development of the Renewable Energy sector.

Mr. Bayaornibe DABIRE, Director of Energy and Mines of the ECOWAS Commission, thanked in his speech the European Union for its efforts in sustainable energy in West Africa through this program and recalled that the research work completed by these 15 programme scholars, this program will also facilitate access to quality research work that can help meet the challenges of the sustainable energy sector in West Africa. He also encouraged students to capitalize on their knowledge acquired through entrepreneurship and research in the renewable energy sector.

The EU-ECOWAS scholarship programme will continue to enhance human capital development in sustainable energy in West Africa by supporting eligible scholars in the ECOWAS member countries to contribute to the development of the sustainable energy sector in the subregion.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Through a multi-year commitment (2024-2027), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$19.6 million (EUR18 million) from the Government of Ireland to support the Government of Uganda to strengthen self-reliance initiatives for refugee communities and to enhance social protection and school feeding in the Karamoja sub-region.

“Support to Karamoja and refugee communities continues to be an integral part of our strategy in Uganda,” said H.E Kevin Colgan, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to Uganda. “This contribution is part of Ireland’s commitment to keeping Karamoja children in school, improving food security and nutrition, strengthening people’s livelihoods, and boosting the local economy. Reaching the furthest behind is core to our international development policy.”

In Karamoja, this contribution will enable WFP to procure locally-available maize, beans, and vegetable oil for school meals, benefiting 220,000 school children and smallholder farmers, and thereby stimulating local economies. In this hotspot of the climate crisis, WFP will also boost community resilience by restoring degraded land, promote crop diversification and improve post-harvest management. WFP will also support the Government to extend social protection programmes, particularly through the dissemination of early warning information via radio and other channels ahead of climate shocks such as droughts and floods.

In refugee hosting districts, over 50,000 refugees will be empowered to transition from humanitarian assistance to self-reliance by supporting them to invest in alternative livelihoods so they can sustain their families. WFP is collaborating with the Government of Uganda and other partners to promote income generation for refugees and host communities through farming and other livelihood opportunities to support refugee and host communities in surrounding areas to become food secure. This Self-Reliance Model is funded by the governments of Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom.

 “We are grateful for the contribution from the Government of Ireland supporting our efforts to encourage self-reliance and reduce the need for humanitarian assistance in Karamoja and in refugee settlements,“ said Abdirahman Meygag, WFP’s Country Director and Representative in Uganda. “By providing life-changing assistance, WFP is creating a pathway to a brighter future for Uganda.” 

Karamoja faces multiple development and socio-economic challenges. While Uganda is expecting improved crop production in 2024 due to increased rainfall, more than 400,000 people in Karamoja (30 per cent of the population) are projected to face crisis-levels of food insecurity (IPC3+) according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis (IPC). Similarly, WFP’s April 2024 Post-Distribution Monitoring indicates that 7 in 10 refugee households are still facing severe or moderate food insecurity levels.

Faced with limited resources and following extensive consultations with refugees and key stakeholders, WFP is prioritising the most vulnerable refugees for food assistance. While building pathways towards self-reliance, WFP continues to support close to 1.4 million out of 1.7 million refugees in Uganda with monthly food and cash assistance.

Ireland has previously contributed EUR 11.4 million to WFP’s operations in Uganda from 2020 to 2023. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

The National Association of Hearing Impaired has successfully completed a three-month sign language training program for 20 women employees from various institutions.

Ms. MerhawitTareke, the trainer, noted that the participants included seven members of the Central Region Police Force, 11 from the Regional Court, and two from Hidri Corporation. The training aimed to facilitate smoother communication for individuals with hearing impairments in their daily interactions.

Mr. Woldemicael Si’ele, Chairman of the Association, highlighted that similar training programs have been regularly organized for staff from various institutions. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with partners to further these efforts.

During the event, the regional committee responsible for translating sign language presented its activity report, followed by an in-depth discussion among participants.

Established in 1998, the National Association of the Hearing Impaired now has over 40,000 members nationwide.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.