Technology giant Microsoft and Gebeya have unveiled Microsoft.Gebeya.com, a platform poised to revolutionize digital skills development across the continent.
Technology giant Microsoft and Gebeya, a leading Pan-African talent marketplace, have unveiled Microsoft.Gebeya.com, a platform poised to revolutionize digital skills development across the continent. With a mission to upskill 300,000 developers in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) over the next three years, the initiative aims to create a tech talent hub in Africa and bridge the global tech skills gap, ultimately empowering African youth.
Applications for this transformative program are set to open in January 2024. This initiative underscores the commitment to fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and providing unprecedented opportunities for the next generation of African technologists.
Building on a Foundation of Success
This partnership builds upon a successful 2020 collaboration when Microsoft and Gebeya introduced Ethiopia’s first virtual SkillsLab. This initiative provided apprentice-style coding training to more than 1,200 software engineers, marking a significant milestone in developing Africa’s digital talent pool. With the shared vision of expanding this impact, the current partnership leverages Microsoft’s technical expertise and expansive reach to scale up the initiative across eight African countries.
Addressing the Tech Skills Gap
As technology continues to evolve, the global demand for skilled professionals in cloud computing and AI intensifies. Recognizing this, Microsoft and Gebeya aim to train 300,000 developers within the next three years, with a particular focus on empowering 150,000 individuals in the first year alone.
The training will equip developers with proficiency in GitHub Copilot, facilitating faster and more error-reduced coding. Microsoft will play a pivotal role by offering platform deployment support, Azure credits, and marketing assistance.
Certification and Talent Marketplace
The partnership also emphasizes the importance of certification in validating the acquired skills of developers. The goal is to certify 100,000 developers and seamlessly connect them with companies seeking their expertise through the dedicated talent marketplace on the Microsoft.Gebeya.com platform. This streamlined process includes onboarding Microsoft-certified professionals, providing profile support, and establishing connections with recruiters.
AI-Powered Solutions for Career Growth
The collaboration takes a futuristic approach by incorporating AI solutions on Microsoft Azure to simplify access to opportunities for developers. Utilizing contextual search and generative AI, the platform aims to precisely match talents with relevant job opportunities and provide valuable insights to recruiters.
The overarching goal is to accelerate the professional growth of developers, enabling smoother transitions from junior to intermediate levels and enhancing the efficiency of senior developers through AI-driven insights.
Empowering Entrepreneurs and Fostering Ecosystem Growth
Beyond traditional employment, the initiative is committed to identifying and empowering talented engineers to embark on entrepreneurial journeys. This involves providing practical skills, cultivating the right mindset, and exposing individuals to a supportive ecosystem.
As Gebeya’s Chief Growth Officer emphasized, achieving these ambitious goals requires a collective effort across the ecosystem, marking a bold step towards empowering African youth with digital skills and cultivating world-class cloud talent on the continent.
Nurturing Africa’s Innovation Potential
Microsoft, with a track record of three decades in building Africa’s digital capacity, sees the nurturing of tech professionals as key to unlocking the continent’s innovation potential. The Africa Transformation Office General Manager at Microsoft highlighted the company’s commitment to this cause, having already upskilled over 4 million youth in the past five years.
Conclusion: A Transformative Journey Begins
As Microsoft and Gebeya embark on this transformative journey, the stage is set for a significant shift in Africa’s digital landscape. With a focus on upskilling, certification, and AI-driven career growth, the partnership aims not only to address the global tech skills gap but also to position Africa as a vibrant hub for tech talent. This collaborative effort stands as a testament to the belief that empowering African youth with digital skills can shape the future of technology on the continent and beyond.