YOUNG women scientists in the country have been urged to grab opportunities presented by digital technology in various avenues to transform their lives and contribute to national development.

Annagrace Malamsha, a pharmacist, made the call in Dar es Salaam yesterday at the ongoing Innovation Week Tanzania 2024 that was organized by Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Malamsha, one of the beneficiaries of the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) supported by UN Women Tanzania, said that digital literacy is a fundamental instrument for human development and therefore young women must utilise it.

She said the programme also empowered individuals to access information, communicate effectively, secure employment, think critically and navigate the digital landscape responsibly.

“Digital literacy is very important to enable young women access a vast amount of information and resources online, expanding their learning beyond the confines of a traditional classroom,” she said.

Furthermore, she said that women can engage in interactive learning activities, collaborate with peers and gain a deeper understanding of complex concepts.

“We must make tech safe, affordable and accessible to girls wherever they live. We must tackle the ingrained gender norms that prevent girls from seeing digital roles as accessible career paths,” she said.

Malamsha said that digital technologies have a huge potential to empower girls and women economically and socially to contribute to the national economy.

Data scientist Suna Salum called on foreign and domestic organizations to support girls and young women interested in digital technology.  

Michael Jerry, Programme Analyst-Women Economic Empowerment at UN Women Tanzania, said that 110 girls and young women have been trained on code, graphic designing and robotics.

He said that AGCCI is meant to bridge the gender digital gap by empowering young girls between the ages of 17 and 25 to become programmers and innovators.

He said that AGCCI is further aimed at upskilling and empowering young women in Africa with digital literacy, programming and work-readiness skills.

Jerry said the programme is designed for girls and young women in South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.