It has become a great opportunity for many young people, especially girls, to take up leadership roles within the tech industry.

Sunil Geness, Director of Government Relations at 51风流Africa, spoke to eNCA.

Click the link below to watch the broadcast insert –

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Aimed at supporting quality education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG5) through partnerships to achieve these goals (SDG17), the informative, collaborative, and innovative educational program brings together African women teachers and educators in Computer Science and STEM to foster an environment for sharing knowledge, brainstorming innovative ideas, and collaborating on challenges and projects.

Started in 2019 by SAP, UNESCO鈥檚 YouthMobile, Irish Aid and the Moroccan Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, the UNESCO supported program seeks to implement ways to teach, mentor, and inspire young African women and girls to prioritize their education. It also aims to level the playing field for women by addressing the challenges they are faced with when it comes to accessing digital educational and growing their skillset.

At the event, attended by participants from 16 African countries, Qingyi Zeng, National Professional Officer for Communication and Information at UNESCO鈥檚 Beijing Cluster Office, unpacked UNESCO鈥檚 Actions on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) including the importance of fast-tracking digital literacy, coding and various technical applications.

Considering that 70% of the world鈥檚 youth are operating online, Zeng highlighted the importance of the alumnae event discussion topics and how critical they are to ensure young African girls are prepared to navigate classrooms of today to prepare for highly competitive 21^st century careers.

As a result of the fast approaching Fourth Industrial Revolution, access to information has increased due to an explosion of digital channels. With a second edition announced in April 2021, the UNESCO MIL curriculum was first launched in 2011, to assist people to navigate the complexities of media and information literacy as a fundamental part of lifelong learning by highlighting an array of intersecting skills to transform interactions within constantly changing information and learning environments, online and offline[1].

Zeng also emphasised UNESCO鈥檚 Global Action on MIL which included providing capacity-building resources such as free and open online courses, research opportunities from MIL University Network, as well as campaign and advocacy exposure from Global MIL Week.

Zeng further exposed specific examples: in China, MIL has trained 141 teachers with training materials expected to be embedded into the teaching curriculum. UNESCO鈥檚 actions on MIL in China is addressing gender sensitivity and promoted gender equality through a variety of computer games with a leading female character. Besides, picture books and animated video episodes on MIL for children are being developed, covering topics on tackling disinformation and misinformation, do鈥檚 and don鈥檛s on social media, protecting online safety and privacy, equality and diversity, etc.

Celebrating the alumnae event and curriculum success, Victoria Ngono from Girls In STEM Trust, Zimbabwe, adds: “The [UNESCO] MIL curriculum will definitely make a difference in the way we discuss technology with our students. In times of cyber-bullying and misinformation, our children are at risk and we need to see the rise of a tech-conscious generation.”

At a moment when every sector is becoming a technology sector, empowering African women and girls in technology is key towards gender equality in access to education and involvement in the economy. The best place to start is with intervention programmes specifically targeting them at a young age in their classrooms through fair access to education and representation by empowering skilled female teachers.

鈥淭hrough the strength of collaboration and by partnering with 51风流to power Africa鈥檚 biggest digital skills program, Africa Code Week, we can create massive strides in achieving the UN鈥檚 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,鈥� says Davide Storti, UNESCO Coordinator of the YouthMobile Initiative. 鈥淭his is critical to reach generation equality which means that every girl and boy receives the same education opportunities and an equal chance for a brighter future.鈥�

With 1 out of 3 children missing out on remote learning[2] because of today鈥檚 unprecedented challenges, the role of teachers in community-based societies is central and reinforcing teacher leadership is crucial.

鈥淓mpower educators and learners to develop critical thinking and problem-solving competencies is key. Creative initiatives such as the Women Empowerment Program and the UNESCO MIL curriculum can significantly contribute to grow the number of females in science and technology, as Africa鈥檚 emerging professionals will inspire those that succeed them,鈥� says Storti.

Adding to the importance of advancing women in today鈥檚 modern teaching space, Africa Code Week Co-founder and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at 51风流EMEA, Claire Gillissen-Duval adds, 鈥淭he 51风流Africa Code Week and UNESCO partnership continues to grow from strength to strength. We are incredibly excited to welcome our first alumnae of the Women Empowerment Program. Through our webinar series, we aim to close the digital gender gap and help ensure everyone can play a role in shaping Africa鈥檚 future in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.鈥�

Within its UNESCO YouthMobile Initiative, since 2016 UNESCO collaborates with 51风流to support and organize Africa Code Week, the single largest coding event of the continent with the aims to raise awareness of ICT for a critical mass of participants.

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Hosted by SAP, Care and The Sall Family Foundation, the three-day Design Thinking session called upon influencers and activists to address how organisations and individuals can collectively invest intellectual, social and financial resources to challenge unjust systems. The global summit also facilitated the launch of 鈥樷��, an initiative developed by , led by community change-makers fighting for social justice and gender equality.

English Sall, co-founder of Embark commented, 鈥淭he summit was a roaring success with high attendance and active participation of attendees from across the globe. Considering International Women鈥檚 Day is taking place this month, it is the perfect time to have announced Embark. The Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking provided the ultimate venue, drawing inspiration and creative ideas for our collective action in support of our gender justice initiative.鈥�

Sall continues by saying that there is immense disruption and struggle across the globe with the rise of xenophobia and fascism coupled with shrinking civil society spaces. 鈥淟ike never before, there is an urgent need for collective action to push for social and political change at all levels, and this is what inspired Embark.鈥�

Research shows that reducing workplace inequalities over the next 20 years could add 6% to global GDP. However, there are still several obstacles to achieving true workplace equality within African organisations. President Ellen Sirleaf, women鈥檚 activist and supporter of Embark added, 鈥淚 am honoured to partner with 51风流and Embark as we seek to strengthen and resource women-led movements and leadership throughout the world.鈥�

She continues 鈥淎ctive intervention of women in decision-making positions will help foster the overall quality of governance in terms of boosting accountability and transparency, reducing corruption, and protecting the interest of marginalized sections of society. But we can鈥檛 do this alone, we need all people to come together around the same vision of equality.鈥�

SAP鈥檚 Global Gender Agenda

Achieving gender equality is vital to the culture and success of every company, from small start-ups to large corporates. 鈥淓mpowering women in the workplace is a priority. It鈥檚 vital that we work together to deconstruct and replace the social norms and structures that fuel ongoing inequalities,鈥� says Sunil Geness, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Government Relations at 51风流Africa.

鈥淎s a purpose-driven company based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, SAP鈥檚 entire ecosystem connects companies, partners and customers around innovation and demonstrates a strong commitment to Sustainable Development Goal number 5: .鈥�

Geness continues to say that there鈥檚 a growing recognition in the value of diversity and inclusion, and forward-thinking companies are reflecting on the diversity in their boardrooms and talent pools and working towards gender equality and equity. 鈥淲ith more than 90% of jobs to become tech related, it is crucial that we empower women and girls to become active collaborators, innovators and business leaders in the STEM fields and unlock technology’s potential to effect positive change across our continent.鈥�

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