As part of ongoing efforts to close the gender gap in digital access and opportunities in Tanzania, 50 girls from across the country have successfully completed the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI), locally known as “Binti Dijitali,” coding camp, marking the fourth national camp organized under AGCCI.

With funding from the Government of Belgium, AGCCI aims to bridge the technological divide by increasing women’s and girls’ access to digital technologies and supporting their empowerment through education and employment.

The two-week camp, held in Dodoma, was implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups; the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology; the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology; and YAS Tanzania.

Globally, women and girls are 25% less likely than men to possess adequate digital skills, and in Tanzania, only one in ten women reports basic digital proficiency (ITU, 2020). A 2019 report by the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics revealed that only 18% of science and engineering professionals are women, underscoring the urgent need for interventions like AGCCI to address this trend.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Daniel Mushi, stated that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has taken decisive action to position women and girls at the forefront of scientific and technological advancement, reaffirming its commitment to expanding female participation across STEM disciplines. He further emphasized the critical need to bridge the digital divide to advance women’s economic empowerment and ensure their full participation in the digital economy.

Lilian Mwamdanga, UN Women Tanzania Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist, highlighted the need for investment in science and technology education for women and girls, stressing that bridging the technological divide requires transforming negative perceptions around these fields and ensuring that laws and policies harness technology to advance gender equality.

YAS Tanzania, a key partner, provided training in digital marketing and graphics design, equipping participants with high-demand creative and entrepreneurial skills.

Speaking at the event, The Territory Manager for Yas in Dodoma, Frank Anthony said; -

As a leading digital lifestyle telecom company in Tanzania, Yas is committed to accelerating digital transformation and inclusion. Seeing these young women complete the Binti Dijitali training is a proud moment for us - it reaffirms our belief that when girls are equipped with relevant digital skills like design, marketing, and data privacy, they become powerful agents of transformation. This is more than training; it’s about shaping a digitally inclusive future where no one is left behind.

To date, AGCCI has empowered more than 200 young women in Tanzania with digital literacy and coding skills. UN Women has also supported over 1,000 women in using digital platforms to manage supply chains, access markets, and grow their businesses, thereby further advancing women’s inclusion in the digital economy.

The AGCCI “Binti Dijitali” coding camps are part of a broader continental effort led by UN Women and the African Union Commission to equip African girls with the skills, tools, and confidence to pursue careers in ICT and digital entrepreneurship, in alignment with Tanzania’s Digital Economy Framework and national strategies on gender equality.