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. UNESCO reports that women make up only 26% of the global AI workforce, while a UNICEF report indicates that in many African countries, fewer than 10% of girls in rural areas possess basic digital skills. In Zimbabwe, the Gender Gap Index shows that women hold just 28.79% of all STEM degrees, underscoring 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 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 and business.
Girls in AI Harare
Since 2023, we empowered more than 5,000 young girls in Zimbabwe through AI bootcamps, mentorships, panel discussions, debates and hands-on 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 STEM 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, STEM and entrepreneurship.
Our hands-on program delivers inclusive AI and STEM 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 solve pressing challenges using AI 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, our program provides accessible AI, digital skills, and business development training to girls who often lack resources, equipment and exposure to STEM opportunities.
Girls in AI Chitungwiza ensures that every girl, regardless of background, can build the skills, confidence, and ambition to pursue careers in AI, STEM, and entrepreneurship.
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