FedEx delivers on skill development to help bridge Africa’s gender gap

When FedEx joined hands with She Code Africa (SCA), the two organizations shared a vision to empower and uplift women in the male-dominated science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields of practice.

Together the organizations developed the SCA Academy Program to offer more than just theoretical knowledge. The boot-camp program was presented in a hybrid learning environment to deliver technical tutoring, career mentoring, and improve participants’ access to resources.

In June 2024, 87 students successfully completed a rigorous learning course in Software Engineering, Product Design, and Product Management following the completion of an intensive 12-week learning program.

The intention of the program is to not only address the lack of visibility for women in these fields, but also to address industry-wide troubles in producing and retaining skilled workers, particularly women, to drive the growth of local economies in developing nations.

“This collaboration reaffirms the commitment FedEx has made to enrich, expand, and enhance our culture through education, reiterating our stance that consistent progress and change are imperative for advancing gender equality,” said Taarek Hinedi, Vice-President Operations, FedEx MEISA.

Through this exciting collaboration, the program has supported 100 women from over 20 countries around the African continent. By strengthening their skills, these women are now poised to thrive in the technology field.

“It is our hope that through SCA, the delegates realize the importance of the tools they have gained,” said Hinedi. “Furthermore, we hope our graduates understand their responsibility to proactively use their skills to advance the greater African tech industry.”