by Airtel Africa Foundation has launched an ambitious new initiative, “Tech for Her by Airtel Africa Foundation,” aimed at empowering young women across Africa with critical digital skills. This ambitious program targets women in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, providing them with a pathway to thrive in the rapidly growing technology sector.
Tech for Her by Airtel Africa Foundation: Bridging the Gender Tech Gap
The “Tech for Her by Airtel Africa Foundation” program is a five-week intensive online digital skills training initiative. It focuses on equipping participants with high-demand competencies such as Linux Administration, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, SQL, DevOps, and Ethical Hacking. The program is delivered in partnership with Tertiary DNS, a renowned digital training provider.
Recognizing the vast opportunity the digital revolution offers yet the persistent gender inequity in tech, this program is designed to remove barriers that have traditionally blocked women’s access to the digital economy.
According to UNESCO, women represent just 30% of tech professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa and hold only 2-8% of software development roles. Tech for Her by Airtel Africa Foundation directly targets this disparity.
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Inclusive and Flexible Learning Model
The program delivers over 100 hours of training through a flexible learning model tailored to participants’ diverse commitments. Weekend classes accommodate working professionals, while weekday sessions serve non-working participants. This approach ensures broad accessibility without compromising program rigor.
Applicants must have basic digital literacy and at least a national diploma in Science and Technology or an equivalent qualification. The program reserves 30% of training slots for women from rural and underserved communities and prioritizes 40% of seats for applicants from low-income households. This focus on inclusivity ensures that even the most underserved women have the opportunity to benefit.
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Empowering Women Beyond Training
Graduates of Tech for Her by Airtel Africa Foundation receive 12 months of post-training support, including continuous skill development and career guidance. Remarkably, participants who score 90% or higher qualify for exclusive internships at Airtel Africa. They also gain access to structured mentorship from leading tech industry professionals, providing them invaluable exposure and pathways to global tech roles.
Chair of Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, emphasized the program’s transformative potential:
“Africa’s digital revolution cannot reach its full potential without gender equity. The Tech for Her program helps level the playing field by providing women with industry-relevant skills, mentorship, and pathways to high-growth tech careers around the world. By investing in Africa’s women, we invest in sustainable economic transformation.”
Regional Impact and Launch Highlights
In Uganda, the program was officially launched at the Kawempe Public Library, where Airtel Uganda’s Head of Performance and Rewards, Resty Ayona, highlighted the urgency of removing systemic barriers that block women from the digital economy. Similar launch events are planned and ongoing across Kenya and Zambia.
Applications for the program opened on August 7, 2025, through country-specific portals accessible via Airtel’s official websites. The targeted age group is women aged 18 to 35, further focusing on youth empowerment to build the next generation of African female tech leaders.
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The Bigger Picture: Driving Digital Inclusion Across Africa
Tech for Her by Airtel Africa Foundation aligns perfectly with the Foundation’s broader mission to empower Africa through digital inclusion, financial inclusion, education, and environmental protection. Airtel Africa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa plc, operates across 14 African countries and uses such programs to foster inclusive growth and development.
By upskilling women and providing them with opportunities previously out of reach, the program promises to be a game-changer. It seeks not only to plug the gender gap in the continent’s tech industry but also to unlock economic transformation by fostering female leadership in technology.
For further information and to apply, interested candidates can visit the respective Airtel portals for Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in Africa’s journey towards a gender-equitable digital economy and a sustainable, inclusive tech ecosystem. Airtel Africa Foundation continues to lead the charge with its vision of empowering the continent’s women to take center stage in technology and innovation.
