Microsoft and Tech4Dev partner on Women Techsters Initiative for girls and women acquire digital skills across the continent
In a virtual roundtable, Microsoft and non-profit social enterprise Tech4Dev launched the Women Techsters Initiative aiming at training girls and women between 16 – 40 across 54 countries in Africa in coding and deep tech skills aiming at addressing the digital and technology divide and promoting equal access to opportunities across the continent. The initiative will provide specialised training on technical skills such as software development, product design, product management, data science and artificial intelligence (AI) engineering, and cybersecurity. The initiative, which aims at addressing the knowledge gaps and supporting girls and women to jumpstart their careers, will also include virtual open days, boot camps, and masterclasses to teach them how they can harness technology for career and business growth. ‘The overall objective of Women Techsters is to grow and support a community of tech empowered girls and women across the continent, who will have equal access to decent job opportunities as well as build and scale their ideas into tech-enabled businesses and deep tech start-ups, ultimately aiding overall economic growth,’ noted Microsoft Philanthropies MEA Regional Director Ghada Khalifa.