Skills for Success bridges Africa’s ICT gender gap

Digital technologies have ushered in a new era of connectivity and interaction, reshaping the way we work, share experiences, and build communities. However, Sub-Saharan Africa faces a significant challenge as the demand for digital skills grows rapidly.

By 2030, the region is expected to see over 230 million jobs requiring digital expertise. Despite this, the information and communications technology (ICT) sector remains heavily male-dominated, with women comprising just 27% of the tech industry and a mere 6% in app development as of 2022.

This stark gender imbalance in the digital workforce is even more pronounced in Africa and countries marked by historic or systemic socio-economic disparities. Within one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, it’s disconcerting that women, who make up 50% of the workforce, constitute less than 30% of ICT workers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Addressing this pressing issue, the International Youth Foundation’s (IYF) digital empowerment programme, Skills for Success (S4S), has been making significant strides.

S4S offers students the opportunity to enroll in various ICT courses certified by Google, including professional certificates in IT, UX design, data analytics, project management, and digital marketing and e-commerce. Currently, an impressive 80% of the programme’s enrolled learners are women.

 

S4S’s unique approach sets it apart from many other educational ICT programmes. It focuses not only on imparting hard technical skills but also on nurturing soft skills such as crafting a CV and foundational entrepreneurship skills.

This holistic approach equips students with the tools needed to launch their own businesses, addressing yet another socio-economic inequality – the lack of women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises. Globally, women own only 36% of all small businesses, a figure that is exacerbated in lower-income countries.

The programme has been successfully rolled out in three African countries – South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, garnering enthusiastic responses from enrolled learners and graduates. Many have embraced their newfound IT skills and entrepreneurial knowledge.

One Nigerian learner shared her thoughts on the course’s impact, stating, “I have a strong desire to share the knowledge I’ve gained with others, with a particular focus on empowering females through the transfer of these valuable expertise.”

Today, on International Women in Cyber Day, the world draws attention to gender disparities in the ICT sector and emphasises the need for more diversity in the industry. IYF is not just raising awareness but, more importantly, taking concrete steps through S4S to bring about lasting change in the sector.

While inequalities in ICT knowledge and employment cannot be resolved overnight, change can be realised by empowering those interested in pursuing ICT through an accessible, sustainable, and practical program with tangible results.

The impact of the Skills for Success programme is already evident. More than 1 200 livelihood opportunities have been documented, and graduates have experienced a marked increase in job security and earning potential.

S4S’s achievements are undoubtedly transforming the gender landscape of the ICT sector in Africa, propelling the region toward a more equitable economy.

Importantly, the ripple effect of the S4S programme is profound. Forbes notes that companies with gender diversity are more likely to report increased profits and productivity. By providing a pipeline of talented women into the ICT industry, S4S not only empowers women but also fuels the growth of the ICT sector, laying a solid foundation for a strengthened economy.

As Sub-Saharan Africa races towards a digital future, initiatives like Skills for Success offer hope, paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous ICT landscape where gender diversity is celebrated and leveraged as a driving force for progress.

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