Longa Andrea Mbuyamba : an ode to digital and Panafrican sorority

Can we transform our digital future without enhancing the influence of women in the ecosystem?

Digitalization is a major driver of economic development and societal transformation. It is imperative that this evolution be inclusive, integrating the needs and perspectives of all, especially women.

Technology is rapidly reshaping our continent, opening new horizons and revolutionizing traditional sectors. However, this digital revolution remains incomplete as long as women, who represent half of the continent’s population and its diaspora, do not fully participate in this change.

The African economy, like many others, suffers from a shortage of talent, particularly in the digital sector. According to a World Bank study, less than 30% of tech professionals in Africa are women. The growth of female graduates in tech on the continent between 2019 and 2022 is only 7%, a figure still insufficient to meet the exponential needs of businesses. In the innovation ecosystem, startups led by women in Africa have received less than 3% of the $5 billion in venture capital investments.

Faced with these figures and the economic, social, and societal challenges, investing in the feminization of digital professions and sectors is crucial. The lack of women in digital jobs results from a multifactorial situation that continues to deteriorate, ranging from education and the orientation of young women towards scientific and technical fields to their professional integration, across the entire value chain. Yet, many women have been behind major advances in digital and science. It is essential to understand the reasons behind their absence. They continue to face various socio-economic and demographic obstacles that hinder their progress, such as the glass ceiling, access to financing, lack of representation, discrimination, lack of awareness of training, or the absence of a network.

Less than 30% of tech professionals in Africa are women

My name is Longa Andrea Mbuyamba, and I am one of those 30% of female tech professionals in Africa since I decided to leave France and settle in Ivory Coast. Passionate about this field but also seeking to better assess my career options in Ivory Coast, I did extensive research. My research quickly revealed that most companies are still in the early stages of their digital transformation. They recognize the need to modernize and secure their information systems, which creates job opportunities. However, professional integration is not always easy, even with the appropriate diplomas and certifications. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm around this field is increasingly improving the economic situation of many people. This trajectory towards Africa is also the continuity of two strong initiatives to which I belonged in France, each aiming to reconnect Africa and its diaspora in Europe by relying on our dual identity, Panafrican Stories and the Congo Synergy Club.

It is in this context that I began to explore the technological ecosystem, mainly for women. I admired some women with excellent careers, but I was frustrated not to see them raise their voices as high as those of the country’s tech giants, although they could inspire many young girls. All these observations led me to ask myself many questions. As a woman in tech in Africa, do I have a role to play in reversing this trend? What should be my level of commitment to the ecosystem? How do I access the great opportunities of the digital economy?

I was fortunate to be surrounded by digital sisters with whom, in a small group, we spent hours reflecting, debating, and questioning ourselves on these subjects. Our professional challenges were specific, and our reflections nourished by this sisterhood. Issues related to the balance between professional and personal life, as well as the fight against gender stereotypes, were essential aspects of our experiences. This solidarity among women strengthened our desire to act to create an environment conducive to the empowerment of women in the technology sector in Ivory Coast.

Gradually, we created a community that quickly sparked interest on social networks, meeting a real need. In a short time, we reached a wide audience on substantive topics while adapting to the codes of social networks. For example, we demystified stereotypes about technology jobs and highlighted women’s career paths through storytelling to create more models of success.

This is how Abidjanaises In Tech was born, based in Ivory Coast but oriented towards the world with a team of passionate and committed women. One of the first business clubs dedicated to Women in Tech in Ivory Coast, a platform where women can develop, collaborate, and support each other to break down barriers limiting their participation in the technology sector. For us, being an Abidjanaise in Tech means much more than a job; it is a deep commitment to contribute positively to the transformation of Ivory Coast through technology. It is these interactions among women in the tech ecosystem in Ivory Coast and beyond that reveal similar stories of challenges, but also resilience and talent. It became clear that to create a lasting impact, collective action was needed.

Our vision is ambitious but achievable: to create the most powerful pool of technology experts in Africa

This advocacy is therefore an ode to Pan-African digital sisterhood, which will strengthen the influence of women in the digital transition and digitalization of the African continent. Our call also addresses those we call HeForShe with whom we must co-act, and especially to the actors of the ecosystem whom we mobilize to implement actions at all levels.

Our vision is ambitious but achievable: to create the most powerful pool of technology experts in Africa. We firmly believe that to achieve this, it is essential to:

1Facilitate knowledge transfer and mentoring: We organize workshops, experience-sharing sessions, and mentoring to strengthen women’s technical and leadership skills. We believe that mentoring is a powerful tool capable of transforming lives and inspiring positive change.

2. Create opportunities through networking: By connecting women in the tech ecosystem, we facilitate the exchange of ideas, collaboration on innovative projects, and access to professional opportunities. Our regular events, whether online or in person, aim to build strong bonds among members of our community.

3. Promote visibility: Too often, the achievements of women in tech are unknown. We highlight the successes of our members through various communication channels like our talk show available on the YouTube channel Abidjanaisesintech on women shaping Tech in Ivory Coast.

4. Increase access to opportunities: In partnership with private benevolent actors, public actors, and associations in the technology ecosystem in Ivory Coast, we offer invitations to high-level events, benefits to support the companies of our members, public speaking opportunities to feminize panels, etc.

5. The power of numbers: The scientific approach of Abidjanaises In Tech involves a systematic approach to collecting, analyzing, and disseminating relevant data to understand the situation of women in digital and work towards a more equitable and inclusive technology ecosystem.

By creating bridges between women from different African countries, we can strengthen our resources and thus maximize our collective impact

To realize this vision, we must act on several fronts. We attach particular importance to data. The impact of Abidjanaises In Tech is measured notably by the increasing number of synergies. We create and measure our activities and actions to enrich research on women in tech through our application developed by our firm Meraky Tech, and the sectoral barometer that we disseminate. Today, we have more than 280 members, of which 38% are professionals and 31% are entrepreneurs/startups. We have generated more than fifty opportunities in a year (public speaking, jobs, business deals, press, intermediation, volunteering) thanks to the quality of our pool ranging from development, AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and even virtual reality. Not to mention the certifications or degrees recognized within it such as MIT, PMP, CISA, etc. These women have ordinary and extraordinary paths that form inspiring stories, giving hope for the digital sovereignty of the continent. These women have always excelled in their field; Abidjanaises In Tech simply connected them. When one of our members said, « I negotiated contracts worth over 30 million F CFA for my company thanks to the Abidjanaises In Tech network. The spirit of sisterhood truly resides there, without any ulterior motives. » I understood that we were on the right track.

We also understood that the development model of our network is replicable, and that is why Abidjanaises in Tech is no longer just an organization in Ivory Coast with a Parisian branch; it is a movement that extends to new Pan-African spaces for inclusion, excellence, and the radiance of the continent. By creating bridges between women from different African countries, we can strengthen our resources and thus maximize our collective impact. Our second chapter officially launched its activities in Lomé under the name Togolaises In Science, and two other chapters will be added to the map by the end of the year.

Join us in this adventure and contribute to creating environments where women can thrive, inspire, and transform technology communities in Africa.

We are Abidjan women in tech & Women In tech In Africa, and you?

Signed Longa Andrea Mbuyamba on behalf of the inspiring founding and core team Anah Coulibaly, Ella Ruth Assie, Sophie Tall, Chahine Kondoh, Fifi Kouyate, Corinne Naye, Awa Ndoye, Sarrah Coulibaly, Schekinaelle, Aurore, Iden Lida, Djamila K. Ahmed, Natasha Dinbam, and on behalf of the 280 inspiring members of Abidjanaises In Tech.