Prime Highlights

• Absa has announced the expansion of its ElevateHer programme to nine African countries to strengthen digital skills and inclusion for women.
• The initiative aims to support women’s participation in the digital economy by providing practical, job-ready skills through strong regional partnerships.

Key Facts

• The ElevateHer programme was launched in South Africa on 18 September 2025 and is now being rolled out across multiple African markets.
• The expansion is supported through partnerships with Microsoft Elevate and Women in Tech, focusing on education, business support, and digital inclusion.

Background:

As Africa’s digital economy grows, the need for digital skills is increasing. However, women remain underrepresented in technology-related jobs.

This expansion follows global discussions, including those at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where leaders highlighted the need to close digital skills gaps and better prepare developing regions for future jobs.

Through ElevateHer, Absa is using its pan-African presence along with Microsoft’s training platform and Women in Tech’s community networks to support women with useful skills for work, business, and personal development. The programme focuses on building job-ready skills that support employment, entrepreneurship, and economic participation. Participants are trained to use AI tools responsibly for everyday tasks such as generating ideas, writing reports, and improving productivity using technologies like Microsoft Copilot.

Since its launch in South Africa, ElevateHer has already reached over 10,000 learners. Participants who complete the training receive Microsoft digital badges, which can be shared online and used to demonstrate newly acquired AI skills.

Tamu Dutuma, Head of Strategy and Transformation Technology for Africa Regions at Absa, said digital confidence is becoming as essential as financial literacy. She said the partnership helps Absa provide employees and communities with the skills they need to succeed in a digital world, while also strengthening the bank’s focus on diversity and inclusion.

Tiara Pathon from Microsoft Elevate said inclusive growth depends on building skills at scale in developing regions. She added that investing in women’s digital skills is important for Africa’s future workforce and long-term economic growth.

Women in Tech, which aims to empower five million women and girls in STEAM fields by 2030, views the programme as a powerful platform for building confidence, creativity, and leadership. The organization focuses on education, business support, digital inclusion, and advocacy to promote gender equality in technology.

Melissa Slaymaker, Africa Regional Director for Women in Tech Global, said many women are interested in using digital tools but are not always sure where to begin. She added that the ElevateHer programme gives women the skills and confidence to use technology in their work, studies, and businesses.