Vera Songwe to chair new Vodacom Foundation board
The Foundation aims to positively impact 50 million lives across Africa by 2030, with its new structure focused on scaling digitally enabled programmes in connected health, connected education and digital skilling.
Songwe, a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and former executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, will chair the board.
The board includes Vodacom Group CEO and Foundation founder Shameel Joosub, Graça Machel, Vodacom Group chief Oofficer for external affairs Ayman Essam, chief officer for legal, risk and compliance Anna Isaac, Vodacom Mauritius executive Gerhard van Niekerk, and foundation executive head Mashudu Ndou.
Three areas of focus
The Foundation's regional strategy centres on connected health, connected education and digital skilling.
Its connected health programmes include digitally enabled maternal-care networks linking community screening, pregnancy tracking, frontline healthcare support and emergency referral pathways.
In education, the Foundation plans to use digital tools, coaching and data-led support to improve teacher effectiveness and student learning outcomes, particularly in remote and understaffed classrooms.
One of its flagship initiatives is Classroom Compass, a digital platform providing classroom tools, teacher coaching, AI-enabled planning and real-time data intended to identify where additional educational support is needed.
The digital skilling pillar will focus on youth employment and economic opportunities through market-aligned digital skills, internships and placement pathways, entrepreneurship support and career acceleration.
From country initiatives to regional programmes
The Foundation said the consolidated structure is intended to move its activities from country-level initiatives towards a more coordinated regional approach.
It plans to work with governments, co-funders, technical partners and implementation organisations to expand the reach and sustainability of its programmes.
Songwe said the Foundation's 50 million lives target is intended to translate technology and connectivity into scalable programmes addressing developmental challenges across the continent.
Joosub said the strengthened leadership and regional approach would help the Foundation scale its programmes, deepen partnerships and use technology to create measurable social impact.
The Vodacom Foundation brings together the eight foundations operating across Vodacom's footprint. Vodacom Group says its mobile networks serve more than 243 million customers and cover a total population of more than 596 million people.
