Debugging the gender gap: Huawei Kenya adds women to ICT workforce

In marking International Girls Day in information and communication technology, Huawei Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to support women in the ICT sector by pushing for diversity and gender inclusion aimed at seeing more women advance in the technological front.

The company has identified five main priority areas to support girls and bridge the gender ICT disparity in the workforce. Some of the initiatives that Huawei is employing include hiring and supporting female employees, providing internships for female students, providing training for underprivileged female youth, donating ICT equipment for girls to use in schools, and helping girls learn how to use ICT and the internet to improve their lives.

Commenting on this inclusivity agenda, Adam Lane, the Huawei Kenya head of public affairs, said there is more work to be done to bridge the gender gap and create diversity within the ICT sector.

“As one of the top technology companies in the country and the world, we believe that we have a responsibility to empower the communities we operate in. Supporting girls is a deliberate strategy for us,” Lane said.

International Girls in ICT day, which fell on April 26 this year, aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICT, enabling both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector.

Huawei, a leading global ICT solutions provider, has a mission to bring digital service to every person, home and organization. Women comprise 50.3 percent of Kenya’s total population, yet are underrepresented in the ICT sector. Huawei relentlessly supports girls and women to participate in and benefit from the ICT sector.

“Over the years, we have involved ourselves in sustainable projects with the government, ICT regulators and other private companies that have brought about opportunities for women in the ICT sector. We believe that initiatives like our Seeds for the Future program are a key solution to improving the gender and diversity agenda as they provide a training ground for more women to be exposed to the revolutionary field of technology,” concluded Lane.