Africa Code Week helped integrate coding into the national curricula of seven African countries.
Software giant SAP is bowing out of the AfricaCode Week initiative as it shifts its focus to employability and ‘learning to earn’ skills development programmes.
Spearheaded by SAP in 2015 as part of its social investment to drive sustainable development in Africa, the digital skills development initiative has benefited over 17 million African youth since its inception, in partnership with UnescoThe Association for the Development of Education in Africa and Irish aid.
In a statement, SAP says that as it exits the initiative, its partners will continue to take the initiative in Africa’s underserved regions.
“From 2024, SAP’s corporate social responsibility has shifted its focus to skills for employability and ‘learning for profit’ and will therefore pass the baton to Unesco to continue the mission of Africa Code Week,” notes Claire Gillissen-Duval, senior director at SAP. corporate social responsibility for Europe, Middle East and Africa and Central and Eastern Europe.
“With our dedication, we have worked to ensure that every young mind is equipped for success in the ever-changing landscape of the modern world. While we have achieved incredible results so far, there is more work to be done.”
Gillissen-Duval points out that the initiative has helped integrate coding and computational thinking into the national curricula of seven African countries, advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2023, the program impacted more than 2.4 million young people, of which approximately 46% were women. More than 1,200 workshops were held, mobilizing 25,550 teachers across Africa during the year, with participating countries including Tunisia, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Morocco.
Last year, Africa Code Week announced a two-year action plan as part of the second phase of the coding initiative, which involved engaging governments across the continent to play a bigger role in promoting the adoption of coding in their countries’ schools.
“Our primary goal was to integrate coding into national curricula and we have achieved this by maintaining active engagement with Ministries of Education across Africa, ensuring our youth have access to a comprehensive skill set that is increasingly necessary,” he says Gillissen-Duval.
Africa is facing a growing demand for digital skills, with a is displayed 70% of the jobs needed by 2030. Recognizing the need to upskill students and teachers across the continent, SAP launched the digital skills program nine years ago.
Last year, the company’s research report, Africa’s technical skills scarcity revealed, highlighted the challenges and opportunities for African organizations seeking greater availability of skills for the fourth industrial revolution.
“As we champion equal access to education, we believe future skills will continue to play a key role in shaping the trajectory of tomorrow’s workforce,” concludes Gillissen-Duval.