NAIROBI,Kenya-Absa Bank Kenya has partnered with GirlCode to launch the 2025 edition of GirlCodeHack, a Pan-African women-in-tech hackathon that will see 100 young Kenyan women compete to solve real-world problems in FinTech, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence.
The 30-hour innovation sprint, set for October 11–12, will run simultaneously across seven African cities, including Nairobi, Kampala, Johannesburg, and Cape Town.
Themed “Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI,” the event targets women aged 18 to 35, including university students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals.
The top team will take home a cash prize of Sh725,802, with participants competing in groups of two to four.
The initiative, supported through Absa’s mobile-based ReadytoWork platform, more than doubles the number of women targeted in last year’s hackathon.
“This hackathon is a gateway to opportunity. By creating inclusive spaces like GirlCodeHack, we are not only investing in the future of tech but also advancing key Sustainable Development Goals, especially on quality education, gender equality, and decent work,” said Julius Kamau, Absa Kenya’s Chief Operations and Digital Officer.
Tamu Dutuma, Absa Group’s Head of Strategy and Transformation, noted the bank’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, emphasizing the importance of nationwide participation to ensure equitable access for women across various counties.
In 2024, GirlCodeHack drew over 400 participants from five African cities. Kenya’s winning team developed a gamified web app providing young women and girls with accessible information on sexual and reproductive health.
Other innovations included AI-driven mental health tools, blockchain land registries, and fraud detection tools for African SMEs.
“Our mission is to expose 10 million women and girls to technology by 2030,” said Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO and Founder of GirlCode.
“With Absa’s partnership, we are scaling impact and ensuring more women see themselves not just as coders, but as problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders.”
Applications for the 2025 edition close on August 8 and can be submitted via the ReadytoWork App, available on Android and iOS.
