Closing the Gender Gap in STEM and AI in Africa
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The Gender Gap in AI and STEM
The gender gap in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and STEAM remains a harsh global reality and it is even more pronounced in Africa. UNICEF report indicates that in many African countries, particularly Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Mozambique, over 90% of girls in rural areas are excluded from basic digital skills education. This underscores the urgency of empowering more girls and women in technology.
The gender gap in STEM and AI is rooted in cultural and social norms, underage pregnancies, insufficient mentorship, educational disparities and the lack of female role models in STEM across Africa. This is why we started Girls in AI, to address these challenges, striving to impact more than 1 million girls by 2030 and ensure every girl in Africa has the opportunity to succeed in her STEM career.
Empowering Young Girls with AI & STEM Skills
Under the banner Girls in AI, we empower young girls with non-formal, hands-on AI, coding, chatbot development, data science and design thinking education, giving them a direct path to pursue rewarding careers in AI and entrepreneurship. To ensure long-term success for young girls in Africa, we cultivate an inclusive and supportive educational environment that empowers them to thrive and excel in STEM, entrepreneurship and the green economy.
Lead a Girls in AI chapter at your university
Through our university chapters program, students voluntarily work with us to build vibrant AI communities on campus that inspire, train and mentor the next generation of girls in AI. Take the first step to lead a Girls in AI Chapter on your campus.
Girls in AI Harare
Since 2023, we empowered more than 5,000 young girls in Zimbabwe through AI bootcamps, mentorships, panel discussions, debates and digital skills training.
Our AI programs have enabled girls to excel beyond the training workshops, including becoming finalists at the ZimScience Fair 2025 and securing scholarships to study abroad. Girls in AI Harare continues to build confidence, technical ability and female leadership in AI and entrepreneurship.
Girls in AI Lusaka
In Zambia we have the fastest-growing network of girls in AI. In collaboration with GirlUp Advocates Zambia, GirlUp Lusaka and BongoHive, we created a central hub in Lusaka to support young girls who aspire to pursue careers in AI, data science and entrepreneurship.
Our hands-on program delivers inclusive AI education to girls in Zambia, ensuring they receive the same opportunities in the digital economy as their global peers. We help young girls learn to use AI tools and apply design thinking to build scalable startups.
Girls in AI Chitungwiza
We are taking a bold step to bridge the gender gap in STEM by reaching young girls in one of Zimbabwe’s largest satellite cities, Chitungwiza.
In partnership with GirlUp Ignite, Girls in AI Chitungwiza ensures that every girl, regardless of background, can build the skills, confidence and ambition to pursue careers in AI, data science and entrepreneurship.
Using Design Thinking & AI, We Co-created Reusable Pads with Girls in Epworth
In honour of Menstrual Hygiene Day, in May 2026, Mator Design facilitated a design thinking session in Epworth in collaboration with GirlUp Zimbabwe. Our session focused on co-developing reusable sanitary pads to help end period poverty.
The initiative empowered more than 50 marginalized girls with practical design thinking skills, encouraged community-driven problem-solving and promoted affordable, sustainable menstrual solutions aimed at improving dignity, health and school attendance for girls and young women.
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