Digital Transformation: Fueling Equality in East Africa

"I am a proud woman to be in Tech." Rose, Asante Africa Digital Employability and Entrepreneurship Program Graduate (2022)

Women's Equality Day, created in 1973, was inspired by that momentous day when America gave women the right to vote in 1920. As we reflect on the equality strides made by women worldwide, let's turn our attention to women in the remote communities of East Africa. I want to share some exciting and heartwarming stories about how digital transformation is exponentially accelerating women's empowerment and equality. As a female engineer who worked through a massive digital explosion in America, it brings me great joy to work with women now embracing digital opportunities in Africa's technological explosion.

Did you know that over two million African jobs will require digital skills by 2030 ? Even though Sub-Saharan Africa's internet penetration has grown three times the rate of the rest of the world, the continent faces a vast digital skills shortage. We at Asante Africa are seizing the opportunity to address this skill shortage in rural East African communities, and our women are leading the way. Let me introduce two of these remarkable women to you, Rose (Kenya) and Bridget (Uganda).

Single Mother Rose came to work for us as an office cleaner. Rose had challenges faced by many young mothers, juggling childcare for her daughter while she worked and the burden of being the sole financial provider for her child. She could not continue her schoolwork because she couldn’t afford the fees. Rose had an inherent desire to create a brighter future for herself and her child. Participating in a digital transformation program transformed Rose’s life.

Rose joined the first Asante Africa’s Digital Employability and Entrepreneurship Initiative (DEEP) cohort in 2021. DEEP is an innovative apprenticeship program that builds a bridge between rural marginalized out-of-school youth and digital economy opportunities. Rose graduated from the program with two globally recognized certifications in IT Support from Google. Rose then secured a job with an education technology company as the head of curriculum development. As a mother, first and foremost in her mind is using her digital skills to empower the next generation through education:

“With my team we’re creating digital content that is meant to enhance learning and acquisition of digital skill for the next generation”.

Indeed, an innate desire to empower others is at the core of how we, as women, operate. Bridget, another single mother, graduated from our DEEP initiative with a qualification in software development. Bridget is passionate about helping other women take up opportunities and trained with Akira Chix (a local enterprise that aims to close the gender gap by providing market-relevant technical skill programs to women). She is now using her software skills to lift up other women through her work with Asante Africa in Uganda!

We are so proud of the challenges these women are overcoming to become financially independent. Through digital up-skilling, they positively contribute to their families, other women, and entire communities.

On #womensequalityday , please join us in our mission to augment the acceleration of women’s empowerment and equality through digital transformation!

Erna Grasz ?is the CEO of?Asante Africa Foundation . She can be reached at?[email protected] .

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