Call for applications to participate in coding camps under the African Girls Can Code (AGCCI) Initiative Phase II
The coding camps are coordinated in close collaboration with United Republic of Tanzania (Mainland and Zanzibar) through the:
Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups
Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
Call for applications to participate in Coding Camps under the
African Girls Can Code (AGCCI) Initiative Phase II
1. Context
Globally, women make up 28.4% of the workforce engaged in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) and only 30% on average in sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition, according to the Global Mobile Communication System (GSMA) Mobility Gap Report 2019, women in low- and middle-income countries are 10% less likely than men to own a mobile device and 23% less likely to use the Internet, compared to their male counterparts. In addition, in Africa,12 the proportion of women using the Internet is 24% compared to 35% of men. 3 Lower levels of ownership and use of mobile devices by women not only reflect existing gender inequalities, but also threaten to exacerbate them. If the gender
gap is not closed, women risk being left behind as societies and economies become more digital. Affordability, literacy, patriarchy and digital skills, perceived lack of relevance, and safety and security concerns are the most common barriers to women's access to and use of
mobile internet.
Closing this digital gender gap requires a seismic approach to skills building and
empowerment. Initiatives focusing on increasing participation in the digital economy and supporting the development of relevant content, applications and services by and for women should be a priority. There is a need for a strong generational gender perspective on the digital divide if we are to achieve meaningful and lasting change for a digital revolution by and with girls in line with African Union's Agenda 2063, the upcoming million pound initiative, the
AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment and the Global Agenda 2030
(SDGs).
2. African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI)
The African Girls' Code Initiative (AGCCI) was commissioned by UN Women, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The AUC, through the AU Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development
(HHSD), the Directorate of Women, Gender and Youth (WGYD) and the Department of
Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), is providing technical support to this initiative.
The aim is to train and empower a minimum of 2000 girls aged 17 to 25 across Africa to become computer programmers, creators and designers, putting them on the right track to undertake studies and pursue careers in the information, communication and
technology (ICT) sectors. The initiative has two key strategies, namely: coding camps and the
integration of ICT, coding and gender into national curricula.
The first phase funded by the Government of Denmark was carried out between April 2018
and December 2019 and yielded good results. A second phase was launched in April 2022 by
UN Women and its partners (AUC, ITU, ECA,UNESCO) with financial support from the
Government of Belgium to ensure African girls benefit and contribute to the technological
revolution in their countries and the continent.
UN Women Tanzania is launching a call for applications to qualified girls to participate the
first coding camp to be held in Mbeya, from 27th February – 10th March 2023
The coding camps are coordinated in close collaboration with United Republic of Tanzania
(Mainland and Zanzibar) through the:
• Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups
• Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology
• Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
3. Selection Criteria
To qualify for the coding camps, applicants should:
• Be of Tanzania Nationality, female, and between the ages of 15-25 yrs
• Have an interest in science, technology, mathematics, ICT and related subjects
• Know how to use a computer and have basic knowledge of Computer Science
4. Acceptance Criteria
• Provide written permission from parents or legal guardians (for girls under the age of 18) to attend the coding camp. This must be done in the application form;
• Provide a valid phone number and email address;
• Provide a letter of submission with confirmation of availability over the duration of the training (the training camp is 10 days);
• Agree to become an AGCCI ambassador by sharing ideas and experiences in your
school or community.
The Tanzania team responsible for implementing the African Girls Can CODE initiative will
provide the participants selected following a selection process with the following:
1. A 10-day training on coding as per the AGCCI manual
2. Training materials
3. Stationery
4. Transport to and from the training venue in Dar es Salaam.
5. Laptops for use for the duration of and after the training.
6.Submission
• The Call for Application will be open until 20th January 2023 at 23.59 hrs (EAT)
(Tanzanian Time).
• The application form is available here Application Form
• All applications MUST be submitted through email agcci.tanzania@unwomen.org,
with subject line REF: CFA No. UNW-ESA-TZA-2023- 001 on African Girls Can Code
Initiatives Phase 2 Coding Camp.
• Only those short listed will be contacted for further screening and consideration.
• Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
• For more information, please email: agcci.tanzania@unwomen.org,
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