Africa's Digital Growth Drives Demand for AI Skills, Women Lag

• The need for AI and digital skills is rising as digital economies in Africa expand
• Women still lag in the number of technology-driven positions worldwide
• Absa, Microsoft Elevate, and Women in Tech are expanding the ElevateHer AI program

Despite the advancement of the digital economy in Africa, the need to advance skills in artificial intelligence and technologies remains on the rise in the continent.

However, the increase in the number of, and early adoption of, women in digital technologies, there remains an underrepresentation of women in technology-related fields.

The expansion is a response to issues raised at global meetings such as the World Economic Forum at Davos with respect to filling the skills gap of AI and preparing developing countries for a potentially AI-driven world.

In this way, Absa leverages its pan-African footprint in collaboration with the Microsoft Elevate AI skilling platform and the networks of Women in Tech to deliver tangible AI skills to women that are oriented around employability, entrepreneurship, and economic contribution to their respective communities, businesses, and places of work.

Microsoft Elevate helps to achieve this goal, and the company is backing it with its overall vision of bringing humanity to the center of AI innovation.

It combines the power of Microsoft's tech, training, and philanthropic investments to drive education, workforce, and non-profit initiatives. The company has committed to investing more than $4 billion in cash and tech over the next five years and aims to credential 20 million learners in the next two years.

With the support of this program, individuals can avail free training in AI. This can be availed by people at different stages of their careers.

Hence, it supports students, professionals, and entrepreneurs. They can learn skills like idea generation, writing reports, using AI appropriately, and automating tasks using Microsoft Copilot.

The Programme, according to Absa, is meant to help learners develop digital confidence as well as literacy, particularly as technology assimilation is ongoing.

Since the launch of ElevateHer in South Africa, more than 10,000 learners have completed the digital literacy Programme, with participants awarded badges from Microsoft upon completion, which can be shared with others as a measure of their achievement.

Microsoft representatives said that, in the age of AI, inclusive economic growth requires large-scale skills development in emerging markets and specifically targeted investment in women's capabilities.

On account of its partnerships with Absa and Women in Tech, ElevateHer contributes to workforce resilience and responsible AI adoption across Africa.

Meanwhile, Women in Tech remains committed to its vision of impacting five million women and girls in STEAM by 2030 through continued promotion of gender inclusion and digital access.

Education, business, digital inclusion, and advocacy are the core areas the organization operates within, and it sees ElevateHer as one very practical way to build confidence, skills, and leadership in and among women.

As such, expanding ElevateHer across nine African countries shows the shared commitment of Absa, Microsoft, and Women in Tech to enhance access to AI skills that support broader participation in the digital economy.