Google launches new scholarships for aspiring African developers - here's how to apply

Image source: Andela Learning Community on Twitter

The company is offering Android, web and Google Cloud scholarships to beginner and intermediate developers resident in Africa. A total of 40,000 scholarships is on offer to developers, spread across mobile and cloud development tracks. The top 1000 students at the end of the training will earn a full scholarship to certify on Android or cloud development.

The announcement was made during a virtual event at which Google hosted key industry players, policy leads, startup executives and investors driving the growth of Africa’s tech ecosystem.

At our #Build4Africa event earlier today, Google Africa Director @nitin_gajria announced a partnership with @Andela and @pluralsight to offer 40,000 new scholarships to beginner and intermediate developers resident in Africa

Applications at https://t.co/EhMTW3Vxh9 pic.twitter.com/YboZlllLgs

— Google in Africa (@googleafrica) April 29, 2021

The three-month programme is slated to start on 21 June will be open until 14 May. It includes three intensive virtual training bootcamps, mentorship and Google product support, and is open to applications from 17 countries across Africa, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal. South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Google said the aim is to support the growth of the startups through their crucial growth phases.

The accelerator programme gives early-growth stage startups access to Google's people, networks, and technologies. It trains participating startups on technology - AI/ML, Cloud, Android, Firebase, product, data, business, design, people, growth and fundraising, through interactive workshops and labs facilitated by Google experts and mentors.

Google stated that the African startup ecosystem is a key driver of economic growth on the continent, with Africa's tech space experiencing a significant upswing in startup success stories.

Africa's internet economy to boost the continent

"According to the Africa Internet Economy 2020 report, sponsored by Google and IFC, Africa’s internet economy is poised to boost the continent’s economy by 5.25% in the next five years. The report states that the headwinds caused by Covid-19 will not deter the growth of Africa’s internet economy, which is projected to contribute nearly $189bn to Africa’s GDP by 2025, increasing to $712bn by 2050," the company said.

Lastly, Google said that it "continues to support developer communities across sub-Saharan Africa through Google Developer Groups, Developer Student Clubs and Women Techmakers, providing training and support for developers that is aligned with real-life job competency requirements."

"Community groups engage in activities like Study Jams: study groups facilitated by developers, for developers. Today there are over 120 active developer communities across 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa."

Aspiring developers based in Africa can apply for a scholarship here, and interested startups can apply here.