In a landmark initiative to amplify women’s voices in technology, Absa Bank Kenya, in partnership with GirlCode, has officially launched the 2025 edition of GirlCodeHack—a Pan‑African women-in-tech hackathon.
What’s the Hackathon All About?
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The 30-hour innovation sprint is scheduled for October 11–12, 2025, and unfolds simultaneously across seven major African cities: Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Gaborone.
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This year’s theme is “Future‑Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI,” urging participants to build digital solutions that strengthen Africa’s resilience (Tech,2025).
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100 young women from Kenya, aged 18 to 35, will compete—more than double the number targeted in the previous edition.
Who Can Participate?
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Open to university students, recent graduates, and young professionals aged 18–35.
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Competitors must form teams of 2 to 4 members to collaborate and craft real-time solutions.
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Registration is through Absa’s ReadytoWork platform, a mobile-based initiative that empowers youth with digital and employability skills.
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Applications are open until August 8, 2025 through the ReadytoWork app on Android and iOS.
What’s at Stake?
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The grand prize is KES 725,802, awarded to the team with the most innovative and impactful solution (Tech,2025).
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Participants will be guided by industry mentors, gaining real-world insights into the digital economy and honing both technical and soft skills.
Scaling Up Global Impact
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The 2024 hackathon, held across five cities with over 400 participants, produced standout solutions—from gamified health information platforms to AI-powered mental health tools, carbon footprint calculators, blockchain land registries, and SME fraud detection systems.
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The 2025 event raises the bar—with expanded participation, mentorship, and region-wide execution—marking the hackathon as a growth driver in the push for gender equity in technology.
In short, the 2025 GirlCodeHack isn’t just a competition—it’s a transformative movement backed by Absa Bank Kenya and GirlCode. It empowers young women to lead technological innovation across Africa, bridging inclusion gaps while sharpening digital solutions for real-world impact..
