Key Takeaways
- The Tech for Girls programme aims to equip young women with digital skills for the future of work.
- The programme has grown significantly, moving from a rented facility to a permanent training centre with dedicated classrooms.
- Additional investment is needed to complete critical infrastructure, including a cafeteria for trainees.
The Founder of the Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa (HACSA), Ambassador Johanna Swaniker, has called for increased financial and institutional support to expand the Tech for Girls programme, saying greater investment is needed to equip more young women with digital skills for the future of work.
The programme, which was launched by Ambassador Swaniker during her tenure as Ghana's Ambassador to France and UNESCO, has grown significantly since its inception, moving from a rented facility to a permanent training centre with dedicated classrooms.
Background & Context
The Tech for Girls programme was established to target women between the ages of 18 and 35, in line with the United Nations' definition of youth. The programme aims to equip young women with digital skills, including coding, innovation, and digital technology, to enable them to participate fully in the future of work.
Ambassador Swaniker noted that the programme has been supported by family members, corporate organisations, and development partners, including the Australian Government through its Direct Aid Programme. However, she appealed to businesses, philanthropists, and development partners to help sustain and expand the initiative.
Key Findings
The programme has shown significant growth, moving from just 20 participants in the early years to 80 trainees currently studying front-end and back-end software development. Ambassador Swaniker revealed that enrolment has increased significantly, and the programme aims to increase enrolment to between 100 and 120 participants in future cohorts.
Beyond coding, the initiative provides mentorship, internship placements, and career guidance, with several graduates already securing employment or launching their own businesses. Ambassador Swaniker stressed that empowering women with digital skills has a wider social impact, as women play a central role in knowledge sharing in many homes and communities.
Broader Implications
The Tech for Girls programme has the potential to contribute significantly to Ghana's digital development, particularly in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital trade. Ambassador Swaniker noted that technology is becoming indispensable in everyday life, and equipping young women with digital skills will enable them to participate fully in the future of work.
Harriet Nartey, a Ghanaian broadcast journalist and international relations correspondent, encouraged the graduates to embrace their roles as innovators and leaders, noting that technology is the new language of global diplomacy, enabling young people to collaborate across borders through innovation, artificial intelligence, fintech, and digital trade.
Looking Ahead
The Tech for Girls programme is preparing for its 10th anniversary, which will be marked with a summit and international conference focused on celebrating the organisation's impact and mobilising support to expand initiatives such as Tech for Girls. Ambassador Swaniker appealed to businesses, philanthropists, and development partners to help sustain and expand the initiative.
The programme's expansion plans include increasing enrolment to between 100 and 120 participants in future cohorts and establishing a double-shift system to train up to 160 women. Additional investment is needed to complete critical infrastructure, including a cafeteria for trainees.
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