Navigating the Digital Frontier: How the COVID-19 Crisis Sparked a Revolution for Kenyan Women
As the world grappled with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable communities, especially women from informal settlements and rural areas, faced unprecedented challenges. Job losses, economic instability, and increased vulnerability became the harsh reality for many. In response, the COVID-19 & Digital Employability Programme was launched, offering a beacon of hope to over 2,800 young women in Kenya.
Transforming Lives Through Digital Empowerment
The programme, supported by the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme in collaboration with Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), Kenya Film School, and Grayspace Studio, aimed to enhance the livelihoods of women who were left jobless and desperate due to the pandemic. The initiative didn’t just focus on recovery; it sought to provide these women with the tools needed to thrive in a digital world.
Through a carefully designed curriculum, participants were equipped with market-driven digital skills, mentorship, and psychosocial support. The programme’s third phase introduced a new dimension—training in the digital creative space, including digital content creation. This addition, implemented with the help of KFCB, opened up fresh avenues for the women, enabling them to engage in photography, audio-visual production, and podcasting.
A Journey of Learning and Growth
The graduation ceremony for the COVID-19 & Digital Employability Programme was a testament to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders to address the socioeconomic challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. Constantine Obuya, the Executive Director of ACWICT, emphasized the significance of acknowledging the hard work of the graduands, particularly during such a challenging period. He highlighted how these young women, born and educated in an evolving technological world, demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.
The pandemic deepened existing gender inequalities, leaving many women and girls vulnerable to abuse, economic strain, and other tensions. In response, ACWICT partnered with the UK Digital Access Program and Microsoft to explore remote work solutions. Their combined efforts, spanning three phases, culminated in the graduation ceremony, where it was announced that 981 out of 2,800 participants secured employment, with interventions extending to health and agriculture sectors.
To ensure sustainability and broader reach, ACWICT launched the e-learning platform, ACWICT S4E, during the peak of the pandemic. This platform offers over 50 curated courses accessible both online and offline, allowing learners to track their progress seamlessly. In addition, ACWICT addressed limited access to extension services in Laikipia by providing digital skills and developing e-extension service applications, reaching 32,000 farmers and benefiting approximately 1.4 million individuals.
Despite challenges in device accessibility and internet connectivity, particularly in rural areas, ACWICT’s efforts saw a surge in completion rates—from 80% to 99%—once internet access was provided. This achievement underscored the growing demand for digital skills and highlighted the government’s increasing focus on the digital economy.
Real-World Impact and Achievements
William Barasa, Executive Director of AFRALTI, discussed the organization’s role in the UK government-funded programme aimed at improving livelihoods for vulnerable women through digital skills training and content creation. AFRALTI mentored 66 young women in various IT infrastructure roles, such as help desk support and network administration, while also integrating entrepreneurship training into the program. Barasa acknowledged the low representation of women in high-tech fields like cloud computing and AI and praised ACWICT for their effective interventions. He emphasized the importance of co-innovation and market relevance in ICT innovation, committing AFRALTI to further support women’s advancement in ICT.
Ms. Josephine Gauld, Deputy High Commissioner at the British High Commission, highlighted the UK government’s commitment to promoting women’s participation, girls’ education, and gender equality through programs like the Digital Access Program (DAP). She praised the ongoing collaboration with the Kenyan government and local agencies in supporting impactful digital inclusion models, encouraging the graduating women to continue breaking barriers in digital transformation.
Mrs. Mercy Wanjau, Secretary to the Cabinet Government of Kenya, underscored the transformative power of technology, noting how it has led to numerous positive changes in lives despite the pandemic. She highlighted the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for digital transformation, which would ease business, create jobs, and leverage emerging technologies. Wanjau emphasized that the digital employability program is part of a broader socio-economic transformation agenda aimed at powering the economy from the bottom up.
Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead
The culmination of the programme was marked by an exhibition that showcased the comprehensive process undertaken to empower vulnerable women with digital skills and support services. Platforms like ACWICT’s Skills for Employment (S4E) and Certiport facilitated accessible and rigorous skill development, complemented by mentorship programs offering industry insights and job placement assistance. Additionally, initiatives like the Psychosocial Support Center and KFCB’s online integration ensured holistic support, while innovations in digital agriculture and soft skills training by AFRALTI expanded the program’s impact beyond traditional digital sectors.
As the ceremony came to a close, the commitment from the government and stakeholders to continue fostering digital inclusion and economic empowerment was clear. The COVID-19 & Digital Employability Programme not only changed lives—it paved the way for sustained growth and impact in Kenya’s digital economy.
The programme stands as a shining example of how targeted interventions, when executed with precision and compassion, can transform lives. The success of these 2,832 women is a testament to the power of digital literacy, mentorship, and resilience in the face of adversity.