Dakar, June 24 (APS) – UN Women and the mobile telephone operator Free have signed a partnership to “promote the digital inclusion of girls and the economic empowerment of women in Senegal”, announces a press release received Monday at APS.
“UN Women and Free Senegal have signed a partnership to finance two coding camps per year (2025 and 2026) dedicated to girls as well as support for the federation of women active in fishing in Kayar and the cooperative of women and young seed growers”, specifies the text.
Thus, through this partnership, UN Women and Free Senegal mark “a significant step towards a future where gender equality and technological progress go hand in hand to break gender stereotypes and promote the empowerment and leadership of women and girls”, notes the same source.
”Digital opens up new development prospects in all sectors open to innovation. It is therefore crucial to actively promote digital inclusion to move towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” she adds.
Indeed, in sub-Saharan Africa, the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has on average only 30% women, explains UN Women
According to her, ”this statistic highlights the pressing need to increase initiatives aimed at strengthening the participation of women in these vital sectors, thus creating the foundations for a more egalitarian and dynamic society”.
This is why UN Women, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the International Telecommunications Union, launched the “African girls can code initiative” (AGCCI) to “strengthen digital culture and the operational skills of young girls in the sectors of innovation and information and communication technologies (ICT)”.
Through its various programs, UN Women strengthens the capacities of women in terms of handling digital tools.
”The initiatives that we intend to carry out with Free will enable women and girls to acquire a set of technical and general skills which will allow them to flourish both professionally and personally,” explains the coordinator of the UN office. Women Senegal, Djénaba Wane Ndiaye quoted in the press release.
The program will support the federation of women active in fishing in Kayar as well as the cooperative of women and young seed growers.
”Our conviction is that technology is the engine that will propel Senegal towards a prosperous digital era. On this path which leads to development, no one must be left stranded,” according to the director of Free Senegal, Mamadou Mbengue.
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