Microsoft, Gebeya Join Forces to Upskill 300,000 African Software Developers

Microsoft and Gebeya Inc., a pan-African SaaS-enabled tech talent marketplace, have partnered together to launch a new skills and job matching platform that aims to upskill 300,000 developers across Africa.

The platform is dubbed Microsoft. Gebeya.com seeks to play a significant role in closing the tech skills gap in the continent, fostering job creation and entrepreneurship, and empowering the Afrcia’s youth with in-demand digital skills.

Over a three-year period, the collaboration will work with developers in Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Nigeria, Egypt, and Mozambique.

Applications will open in January 2024 to candidates with backgrounds in tech development and computer science who have a keen interest in building solutions in the cloud.

“Our partnership with Microsoft represents a monumental step towards realizing the full potential of Africa’s talent. Through comprehensive upskilling and certification, we are creating job opportunities and technopreneurs (tech entrepreneurs) to pave the way for Africa’s youth to shape the digital economy’s future,” said Amadou Daffe, CEO of Gebeya.

“Young tech talent has never been more important to Africa. If we are to harness the continent’s full innovation potential, we must begin by nurturing the tech professionals who will create the digital solutions needed to positively impact Africa and beyond,’ commented Gerald Maithya, General Manager, Microsoft Africa Transformation Office.

Key highlights of this partnership include empowering African tech talent, matching skills to opportunities, fostering talent growth, creating AI-driven employment opportunities, and promoting technopreneur readiness.

Developers who embark on this training journey will be equipped with an advanced proficiency in GitHub Copilot, enabling them to craft applications and software with unprecedented speed and reduced errors.

Microsoft’s Africa Transformation Office (ATO) will provide support for platform deployment and curriculum development, offering Azure credits and marketing campaign assistance.

The collaboration also extends beyond skills development and Microsoft. Gebeya.com will certify 100,000 developers on the given curriculum, with a merit-based recognition system in place.

Through the platform, these trained Microsoft cloud developers will then be matched directly with companies looking for their specific talents and services.

In addition, Gebeya will onboard Microsoft-certified professionals onto the dedicated Microsoft talent marketplace, drawing on vetting processes to ensure talent quality. To accelerate the hiring process, Gebeya will provide talent support with profile development and also extend support to companies in search of Microsoft-certified talent.

With technical support from Microsoft, Gebeya is developing AI solutions on Azure, making it simpler for African youth to access meaningful employment opportunities.

“This is a very ambitious project we are embarking on with Microsoft and will require the collective effort of the entire ecosystem,” said Martin Ndlovu, Chief Growth Officer at Gebeya.

As part of the collaboration, Gebeya will identify talented software engineers who will be empowered to kick off their entrepreneurial journey through a combination of practical skills development, mindset cultivation, and exposure to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.