Abstract:
The increasing datafication of African societies has led to a proliferation
of data science-related training opportunities. These trainings
provide young people with the opportunity to learn the skills
to work on Data science, with some focused specifically on
women and girls. While this is encouraging and brings new opportunities
for women and girls to participate in the knowledge economy,
it is important to understand the wider context of data
science training in Africa, in particular, how women and girls
experience their (data science) education, and how this knowledge
can impact their lives, sustain livelihoods and bring empowerment.
Through a review of the literature, as well as an examination of
different pedagogical approaches and practices used by various
formal and informal training programs in Africa, we examined the
experience of women and girls. We conducted a mapping of the
training and networks that have been set up to provide knowledge
and skills and to empower women in data science. We highlight
some of the facilitators that have positively contributed to a
greater participation of women and girls in data science educa-
tion, while also revealing some of the barriers and structural
impediments to fair access to training for women in data science.
