African engineers are an essential part of sustainable development. They are playing a vital role in the progress and development of international sustainable goals. Engineers have the potential to both protect the environment and the natural world, of course. But also to increase and optimize the economic growth, reduce poverty and build a stable future in Africa.
Engineering in Africa regions is a key factor for empowering society and making the next generation technology available for everyone. Regarding African women in science and engineering, are all the efforts made enough to get equality, or is there still much to be done? In this article, we will consider the past, present, and future of female engineers in Africa.
Engineer Women in Africa: the road to disruption
When you think of female engineers in Africa, only a few names might come to mind. There is a huge number of women in Africa doing amazing things and working hard for the growth and development of technologies in this region. Unfortunately, there is a visibility issue to be solved.
Speaking globally, there is a visibility problem in the technology industry, causing women to be underrepresented in the global scientific and technological field. Why is this still happening? The gender disparity could be associated with cultural backgrounds.
Notwithstanding, more and more women are starting to build their tech careers, facing all the disparities in this field and highlighting them in a male-dominated field. In order to tackle the engineering gender gap many women are dealing with, this case needs a collaborative approach and starts disrupting the status quo.
So, there is good news: some of the key drivers of gender gaps within African engineering fields are solvable. Implementing actions that can become game changers is essential to target some of the root causes:
- Allow access to and improve the quality of education to both girls and boys, making it possible for them to acquire the expected knowledge in digital skills, math, and science.
- Provide mentorship and showcase opportunities for all genders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), letting the students know that a gender-responsive industry is more than possible: it’s a reality.
- Promote and provide flexible and family-friendly policies in the companies.
African women in STEM: the current scenario
Despite the growth of female presence in engineering fields, there is still a big underrepresentation of women in these areas. As the graphic below shows, the share of graduated women in tertiary education engineering fields is below 30% for many African countries:
Share of Female Tertiary Graduates in Engineering
The main consequence of this is that scientific and technological innovation are missing female perspectives and contributions. In addition, this panorama means that women are more likely to be lower-paying or less taken into account in a technology world.
According to African Women in Science and Engineering (AWSE), the number of women in science and engineering in Africa is below 20%, although women conform 50% of the total population and build the majority of the workforce.
Furthermore, The Equality Equation Report shows that gender norms, stereotypes, and sexual harassment are the key drivers of low female representation in STEM fields. These are challenges that limit the opportunities of women to stand out in STEM careers, creating a loop.
The UNESCO report “To be smart, the digital revolution will need to be inclusive” shows that the vast majority of countries with the lowest representation of women researchers in engineering and technology are African, with the exception of Japan.
Nonetheless, the situation seems to be improving year by year. Job opportunities are not as limited as some years ago: international organizations are supporting the education of women in Africa, which is illuminating today’s scenario.
Being an African woman in tech as told by 5 female engineers
In a bid to learn the stories behind the data, and discover the journeys of the women who have chosen careers in technology, we have talked with four African women engineers. They share their experiences in forging their STEM careers.
Emmah Kimari, a Frontend Engineer from Kenya, explains that one of the biggest challenges she has faced was during her school years when she felt she needed to be more qualified and better than others to make a difference. However, her engineering years taught her a crucial lesson: “step by step I improved myself and I’ve become more confident over the years, and I believe that’s a good quality of an engineer”.
Tamaraebi Dogubo, a Backend Engineer from Nigeria, admitted that being an engineer in Africa opens up better career and financial opportunities. Even so, she thinks that there is a big need for women in STEM: “ I believe most women are steered into “softer” roles by parents, friends or even their spouses. A lot of them really need guidance and counseling to know what drives them and turn that drive into their passion.”
We also had the opportunity to chat with Grace Babirye, an Engineer and Product Manager from Uganda. “A female engineer gets to stand out since most of the time this field is dominated by males”, she said. When we asked about what inspired her to become an engineer, she told us that the reason was to solve problems with technology: “Every time I find a solution to a problem, I sign up to look for the next problem to solve. And this cycle keeps me going.”
Sharon Essilfie is a Designer from Ghana, and she told us about the more exciting part of her profession in Africa “Even more excitingly, is the fact that I get to show other African girls that it is possible to have a seat at the table and that neither your gender nor race should stop you from getting to the top.”
Mujeedah Ashiru, a Product Designer from Nigeria explained to us her point of view about women worldwide pursuing careers in STEM: “These male-dominated fields have lacked women due to inadequate encouragement of girls to pursue careers in these fields. However, this is changing as boot camps as well as scholarship programs are being organized. Soon, the gender gap in this field will reduce.”
Inspired stories for the next generation engineers
We asked all of them to give advice to an African girl who would like to become an engineer. The answers truly inspired us:
Emmah: “You’re not alone! There are many communities and programs that drive support and grow women engineers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t doubt yourself! You’ll get there; you just have to work hard.”
Tamaraebi: “Believe in yourself. Work hard. Whatever efforts you feel you should’ve added in a past project, put times 3 of that in the next. You will make it. Don’t ever give up on yourself. You have whatever it takes, don’t ever think otherwise.”
Grace: “Show up, no matter the circumstances, always show up. Showing up prepares you and the hard work always places you in a better position to win those who may seem naturally talented. Opportunities are many out there, but they only will be useful if they find you prepared. Keep on learning, unlearning, and relearning.”
Sharon: “Take your time, sis. There is absolutely no rush. Just like any other profession or tech role, becoming a good designer takes time. You cannot expect to start today and in two months be like your favorite Youtube designer who has been in the industry for 5-6 years. It takes time. Take your time to learn and embrace the journey. The results will come.”
Mujeedah: “Knowing what you want and having the courage and will to go after it is crucial. Do not let anyone discourage you from your chosen path. The idea of being a female in technology may be daunting as not a lot of us dominate this field, but that should be an incentive to encourage you to be the best. You are intelligent and capable of being an engineer. It is possible. You can do it.”
In conclusion
These five inspirational testimonials have offered us lessons that are applicable beyond the African continent. With the proliferation of technology and the fast growth of the digital economy, it is crucial to start implementing policies that ensure equal access and opportunities to science and technology for all students.
Let’s work together to tear down the barriers and ensure that women are empowered and inspired to build amazing careers in science, technology, and innovation.
