The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have kicked off a landmark programme to equip young African girls with essential digital and coding skills, marking a major step toward narrowing the continent’s gender digital divide.
The Africa Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) was launched on December 1, 2025, in Nairobi in a ceremony attended by ICT leaders, educators, and young learners from across the region.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General, CA’s Human Resource and Administration Director, Ms Reginah Kemboi, underscored that the digital economy can only thrive when girls are fully empowered to participate and lead in the technology space.
ITU representatives echoed this, stressing the need to unlock the potential of Africa’s young women to drive sustainable growth.
What is the aim of the African Girls Can Code Initiative?
The African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) is an initiative that aims to empower girls and young women by providing tangible programmes to increase access to modern technology for girls and young women to bridge the digital gender divide.
It is also providing girls and young women with pathways to contribute and participate in substantial ways to innovation and digital transformation in Africa through access to education and employment opportunities
The first phase of the AGCCI, with a regional focus and national pilots, was implemented between 2018 and 2021 by ITU in collaboration with UN Women, the African Union Commission, and UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Through the partnership, ITU is offering technical expertise, training models, and international mentorship, while CA is spearheading local coordination, partner engagement, and training logistics.
The programme introduces girls aged 10–18 to coding, robotics, web development, digital safety, and problem-solving through hands-on sessions delivered by skilled instructors.
Across participating countries in Africa, girls are engaging in coding camps and digital labs—many accessing a computer for the first time.
