A More Sustainable Future for Africa: Cisco’s Role in Bridging the Digital Divide

When you think of the term sustainability, chances are you think of the environmental kind. But improving the environment doesn’t happen in a void—you need technological access and people with the know-how to manage it all.

This requires a strong foundation of sustainable communities, calling for digital divide solutions that incorporate intersectional considerations like education and gender equity.

The need for educational initiatives to foster environmental resilience in Africa

We could talk about the need for educational initiatives around the globe to support environmental resilience. But let’s start with Africa, a continent disproportionately affected by climate change. Though it emits only 10% of global greenhouse gases, more than 110 million Africans were directly affected by climate-related hazards in 2022, causing more than $8.5 billion in damages.

Despite the urgency of climate change, many African countries are hampered by inadequate digital infrastructure, widespread energy poverty, and difficulties in implementing digital solutions, such as urban farming technology and creating locally relevant digital content. This scenario is further compounded by the fact that only about 36% of Africa’s population has broadband internet access, which restricts the opportunities for online educational resources and hinders progress toward developing innovative solutions to climate-related challenges.

From learning to leading: Cisco’s education programs paving the way for a more sustainable future

Enter Cisco’s purpose of powering an inclusive future for all—which, in part, means providing training to close the digital divide worldwide. In Africa, Cisco supports a number of free or low-cost projects that open up a world of opportunity in the evolving digital economy. This is primarily done through Cisco Networking Academy, one of the longest-standing IT skills-to-jobs programs in the world.

Founded in 1997, Cisco Networking Academy delivers information technology education and practical and theoretical skills in networking, cybersecurity, programming, and the Internet of Things (IoT) through 11,700 school-affiliated programs. So far, it has educated more than 20 million people in more than 190 countries.

Networking Academy allows people to prepare for professional certifications that are valid worldwide, allowing them to get better employment and, in turn, helping their communities become more sustainable. Cisco plans to expand the program and reach even more learners, with a goal of training 3 million people in Africa by fiscal 2032.

And the education works. As a first-year Information and Communication Engineering student at Covenant University in Ota, Nigeria, 2023 Cisco Networking Academy Future Leader Award winner Ireoluwatonde Fasanu found the field too broad to narrow down a career path. Then, her mother passed away, causing her to almost give up on her dream of finishing her degree.

Despite her devastating and heartbreaking loss, Fasanu wanted to prove to herself that no situation should be a hindrance to her dreams. She wanted to be a role model to others. “I didn’t just do this for myself; I did it so that I would have a story to tell others who might have fallen in such time of adversity, or anyone who might be faced with such in the future,” Fasanu says.

Fasanu began taking Cisco Networking Academy CCNA and Cybersecurity courses and found her path forward. By her senior year, Fasanu had built a cross-functional team that designed and created an IoT-based Air Quality Monitoring System for people with asthma. It reads air quality status and sends warning messages via a mobile app. Her exemplary leadership abilities and skill set are a testament to the effectiveness of the Networking Academy education, demonstrating its potential to benefit not just her but countless others.

Other digital divide solutions in Africa and across the world

Beyond the ever-expanding Networking Academy, Cisco also supports a number of programs that work with partners to provide a broad spectrum of education to African students. Starting in the primary level, these organizations offer support in reading, math, and digital creation, building a foundation for students to pursue STEM careers, and thus helping to bridge the digital divide.

• Code.org: Provides Africa, Asia, and Latin America with computer science curricula, as well as investment for platform architecture upgrades for low-bandwidth and offline learners.
• Raspberry Pi Foundation: Brings Code Club to three million students annually, with an emphasis on female participation and engagement in Kenya, South Africa, and India.
• Cisco Connected Disability Action Network (CDAN)/EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa region): Partners with Lexxic to help develop neurodiverse-friendly workplace environments.
• The World Possible partnership, a nonprofit co-founded by Cisco employees, creates mini networks using remote area servers, expanding internet access in remote areas in over 53 countries.

Additionally, Cisco U. provides online access to certification education with free and paid content, regardless of whether people are associated with a school, further democratizing access to networking education.

Get involved with digital literacy

Cisco’s commitment to providing certifications and ongoing technology access, particularly to women, lays the groundwork for a more sustainable future. These initiatives are crucial to ensuring nobody gets left behind in the digital future.

Interested in getting involved with networking education and digital literacy in general?

For more information about all the work Cisco does to power an inclusive future for all, read the FY23 Purpose Report.

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