Absa Partners with GirlCode to Empower Young Women in Tech

By ABN Staff August 4, 2025

Absa Partners with GirlCode to Empower Young Women in Tech

Absa Bank Kenya has joined forces with GirlCode to empower 100 young women through its ReadytoWork Programme.

This initiative is part of a broader goal to expose 10 million women and girls to technology by 2030.

GirlCodeHack Returns with a Bigger Impact

The partnership has launched the 2025 edition of GirlCodeHack, a Pan-African women-in-tech hackathon.

It will empower young women aged 18–35 to develop real-time solutions in FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI. This year’s event targets more than double the participants from last year’s cohort.

The 30-hour hackathon, scheduled for October 11–12, 2025, will run simultaneously across seven African cities.

These include Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Gaborone.

Innovation with a Purpose

The hackathon theme is “Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI.”

Participants can register in teams of two to four and compete for a grand prize of KES 725,802.

The event is open to university students, recent graduates, and young professionals.

“This hackathon is a gateway to opportunity,” said Julius Kamau, Absa Kenya’s Chief Operations and Digital Officer.

“By creating inclusive spaces like GirlCodeHack, we are not only investing in the future of tech, but also advancing key Sustainable Development Goals, especially those on education, gender equality, and decent work.”

Absa Partners with GirlCode to Empower Young Women in Tech

Expanding Reach Across Kenya

In a move to promote nationwide inclusion, this year’s competition encourages participation from diverse counties across Kenya.

According to Tamu Dutuma, Absa Group’s Head of Strategy and Transformation, the bank remains committed to inclusion, diversity, and youth empowerment in tech.

Last year’s hackathon, which took place in five cities, attracted over 400 young women. Kenya’s winning team created a gamified web app offering accessible information on sexual and reproductive health.

Past Innovations Show Real-World Potential

Other standout ideas from the previous hackathon included an AI-based mental health tool, a blockchain-powered land registry, a carbon footprint calculator, and a mobile fraud detection system for African SMEs.

These innovations reflect the participants’ strong technical skills, creativity, and understanding of Africa’s needs.

Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO and Founder of GirlCode, expressed confidence in the program’s long-term impact.

“With Absa’s partnership, we are scaling our reach and helping more women view themselves as problem-solvers, innovators, and tech leaders,” she said.