On April 14th, the BongoHive entrepreneurship team, in collaboration with Zanga African Metrics launched the FIT4 Mentorship Program, an initiative funded by GIZ (Spark). This initiative aims to tackle the gender imbalance in Africa’s tech industry by empowering female tech professionals and enhancing their visibility.

The  Program is set to drive transformative change in the tech sector, building on successful initiatives to uplift and inspire women in technology. By enhancing mentorship, the program strengthens the capabilities of female tech professionals, increases their impact, and fosters a supportive network for female tech leaders.

One of the other key objectives of the programme is to inspire more women to pursue tech careers. The program enables female role models to mentor entrepreneurs across genders, promoting diverse leadership styles. Additionally, it supports entrepreneurship organisations in effectively backing female tech role models, ensuring a more inclusive and impactful tech community. 

The FIT4Mentorship Program is committed to providing comprehensive support through a multifaceted approach. It began with the recruitment and onboarding of mentors and ISOs from across Africa. At the close of recruitment, we received over 700 applications from prospective mentors and 67 from ISOs. From this impressive pool, 30 mentors and 10 ISOs were selected.

Congratulations to all our exceptional mentors who bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and expertise in tech. They are eager to guide and inspire the young women they will be paired with to pursue tech careers. Kudos to the successful ISOs we will work with over the coming months to implement the mentorship program in their respective countries.

Here are the top 10 ISOs that will be implementing the mentorship programs in their respective countries:

1. ImpactHer- Nigeria
2. NeoHub- Botswana
3. Cabinet Hub Zinder- Niger
4. Inspiring African Women (IAW) – South Africa
5. Blue Sapphire Hub- Nigeria
6. StartHub- Uganda
7. Mountain Hub- Cameroon
8. Girls in Tech Zimbabwe (GITZ) – Zimbabwe
9. Pwani Teknowgalz- Kenya
10. Business Academy- Nigeria

It is worth noting that both the mentors and ISOs received training over the past month to equip them with the necessary skills and tools to successfully implement and deliver the mentorship program in their respective countries. Additionally, they will receive ongoing coaching and support from both BongoHive and Zanga African Metrics throughout the program. The ISOs will be responsible for matching female role models with startups as well as managing the mentorship process.

At the end of the program, there will be a virtual graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the program participants and beneficiaries, as well as to assess the program’s impact.

The FIT4Mentorship Program is set to make a substantial impact by offering participants valuable insights from industry experts, facilitating peer knowledge sharing, expanding professional networks, and supporting long-term growth. The program ensures a sustainable transfer of knowledge that benefits the wider tech community.

As the program moves forward, it remains steadfast in its mission to enhance gender diversity within the tech industry. By providing essential support and resources, the program is positioned to empower women, contribute to economic development, and advance technological progress across Africa.

Stay tuned for updates on the program’s progress and the inspiring success stories of the female tech leaders involved.