April 25, 2002

By Claudia Church, News @ Cisco

Bridging both the digital and gender divides in Africa, recent graduates from an all female class at the Cisco Networking Academy Program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia learned new technical, entrepreneurial and management skills, encouraging greater participation of women in information technology throughout the African continent.

The Cisco Networking Academy Program is a partnership between Cisco Systems and education, businesses, government, and community organizations around the world - a comprehensive e-learning program, which provides students with the Internet technology skills essential in a global economy. The program delivers Web-based content, online assessment, student performance tracking, hands-on labs, instructor training and support, and preparation for industry-standard certifications. The impact of the Cisco Networking Academy Program upon every corner of the globe is immeasurable. Currently, more than - 260,000 students are enrolled in the more than - 9000 Academies established in 140 countries worldwide. From the U.S. to countries in Europe to Africa to Asia to the Arab States and to Latin America, people are realizing the power of the Internet.

Nearly two years ago, Cisco and its strategic partners - the United Nations Development Program and the U.S. Agency for International Development - launched the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Initiative in order to establish the Cisco Networking Academy Program in more than half of the world's Least Developed Countries. The LDC Initiative provides a compelling example of how business, international organizations and governments can work together to meet the urgent needs of LDCs and promote digital opportunity. The partners of the LDC Initiative committed to bringing the Networking Academy program to at least 24 of the 49 LDCs by the end of 2001, and by October 2001, had already surpassed the goal by including 30 LDCs in this initiative. Through this partnership, Cisco is also building an ecosystem that introduces knowledge and expertise at critical stages in each country's information technology integration process.

In one example, a project of the LDC initiative addresses the digital divide as well as the gender divide. In April 2001, Cisco partnered with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Information for Development Program (InfoDev) to launch a pilot program at the UNECA Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. UNECA is a recognized leader in the field of gender development, with more than 20 years experience in advancing African women in the fields of science and technology. And providing a strong partner in this effort is InfoDev, a global grant program managed by the World Bank that promotes innovative projects on the use of Information Technology for economic and social development, with particular emphasis on developing nations.

This partnership project proactively promotes greater participation of women in information technology through the Networking Academy program in Ethiopia, providing full residential scholarships for nearly 50 African women who will gain access to the same opportunities as women in advanced or more developed countries. Together, Cisco, UNECA and InfoDev have addressed one of the fundamental objectives of African States and of the United Nations - the full participation of girls and women in the economic field and society in Africa. While the program at UNECA is a one-year pilot, it is hoped that the impact will be felt on both local and global levels.

The primary objective of the partnership project in Ethiopia is to help women participants bridge the digital divide through access to new technologies, which can in turn provide them with better opportunities. Women who complete the program will be equipped with critical skills, allowing them to enter high-income professions and take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities in their own countries.

The training course at UNECA follows the established curriculum of the Cisco Networking Academy Program's first four Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) courses. Upon completing six months and 280 instructional hours, students are eligible to take an exam leading to certification to become a Cisco Certified Networking Associate. In addition, through the UNECA African Centre for Women, course participants are trained in gender and development, entrepreneurship and management skills.

The first group of women, representing 16 English-speaking countries, graduated from the UNECA Academy program in February 2002. The second group of women, representing a wide variety of French speaking countries in Africa, will start classes in May 2002. For the first class of graduates, the students have either returned to their previous positions, in some cases being promoted, or are securing new high-paying jobs and in most cases are encouraging other African women to follow in their footsteps. What's more, the women are leaving the Networking Academy program with a new sense of confidence regarding opportunity, potential and gender. Committing to this intensive coursework challenges students mentally and forces them to create the time needed to complete the course successfully. While the road to graduation is never easy, each student reflects on the experience with a great sense of accomplishment and with a newfound perspective: that they can achieve their dreams.

Anita Twum-Ampofo, for example, is an installation engineer at Africa Online in Ghana. Upon earning certification from the Networking Academy program, Twum-Ampofo returned to work with a new set of networking skills and a new position - one in which she could apply her newfound expertise. Understanding the importance of computer literacy, Twum-Ampofo is committed to fostering the interest of other women in IT. And as a result of her exposure to gender awareness issues, Twum-Ampofo's personal goals have shifted. Soon she will pursue her Masters Degree.

Clara Kimaro teaches computer basics in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. With her certification from the Networking Academy program, Kimaro plans to open a computer training center for women. Her objective is to demystify the computer as a tool to be used only by those with a high-level education. Kimaro is dedicated to offering affordable and convenient computer courses to women and to encouraging them to learn English so that they may read the majority of online content.

Beth Murora, another Academy graduate, works for the Ministry of Gender in Rwanda as a Program Officer. Her interest in gender evolved through her thesis on women empowerment and participation in community development. And her commitment to the program was unrivaled. With sheer dedication and willpower, Murora completed the Networking Academy program at the same time she gave birth to twins. With two great accomplishments under her belt, Murora returned to work with a variety of skills that will allow her to advance quickly in her field. She is dedicated to serving as an advocate for women within the Ministry and to creating more opportunities in the sciences and in IT for girls, particularly at the lower grade levels.

Through the Cisco Networking Academy Program at UNECA, Cisco and the UNECA and the InfoDev/World Bank have addressed a vital social issue - gender equity and equality with respect to access to and use of information technology. The project will have an important impact on not just the women participating, but on their countries as well because it advances scientific and technological education with direct relevance to the new economy. The immediate success of the project has even greater implications for the future. The program at UNECA is a leading example of ongoing efforts in many other LDCs -- efforts to offer all women classes, reduce fees for women, and encourage Academies to train women instructors who can then serve as role models for Academy students. The program at UNECA in Addis Ababa, implemented in partnership with Cisco and InfoDev, will provide a springboard both practically and ideologically for change within this area of the world and many others in the future.

Claudia Church is a freelance writer based in the UK.