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#IWD2022 // Junior Achievement Partners with AfDB to Launch Innovation Centers
The disproportionate barriers to technology access and inherent biases towards women in the technology sector often result in low digital literacy and loss of opportunities for women and girls.
Women, in particular, are severely impacted due to the gendered cultural norms discouraging women from using ICT, lack of role models and to the lack of supportive policies that specifically aim to increase women participation in the digital economy.
The African Development Bank recognizes that in order for Africa to reap the benefits of its demographic dividend, it is critical that African youth, half of whom are women, not only have relevant digital literacy skills and 21st-century soft skills but also have the enabling environment to access technology and become major contributors in the entrepreneurship and innovation spheres.
To achieve this Junior Achievement Kenya, through its Coding for Employment program, has partnered with Africa Development bank to launch three (3) innovation centers of excellence for ICT training in Nigeria and Kenya.
The new partnership is as an effort towards accelerating progress in ICT skills training across Africa.
The African Development Bank’s Coding for Employment program aims to develop the capacity of African youth by equipping them with practical 21st-century skills as well as employability and entrepreneurship skills to increase their competitiveness on the local and global labor markets.
The Innovation Centre of Excellence set to launch on #IWD2022 at University of Nairobi
The program is a flagship of the Jobs for Youth in Africa strategy (2016-2025). The Coding for Employment program consists of placing youth in an immersive ICT environment and linking graduates to a range of employment opportunities.
International Women’s Day 2022
The Launch and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Innovation centers of excellence will take place on March 8th in honour of International Women’s Day.
The theme for the 2022 International Women’s Day is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” #BreakTheBias, a strong message that if we create a world where gender equality resonates from the classroom, board room, and every sector of the economy where women are currently marginalized, the result will be a more inclusive, innovative and resilient tomorrow.
One of the three innovation centres of excellence at Nairobi University
The launch also happens to take place on #IWD2022 to help raise the visibility of the Bank and Junior Achievement Kenya’s commitment to upskilling African women and girls with globally competitive digital skills through the CfE program.
It also serves as a strong signal to the various stakeholders regarding the commitment to the empowerment of young people towards decent and productive employment.
Encouraging women’s participation in Africa’s digital economy will ultimately lead to achieving the goal of improving the quality of life for the people of Africa.
Various stakeholders from ICT sector, education, and government sectors will be expected. The event will be blended Online on Zoom and Physically at the University of Nairobi Main Campus.
Junior Achievement Kenya is a member of the Junior Achievement Worldwide fraternity which is a Non Profit Organization that focuses on Youth Empowerment in three main Pillars, Work readiness, Entrepreneurship and Financial literacy is also a member of Nairobi Garage at our Kilimani Office Space.
