Standard Chartered Bank has announced 100 scholarships under its newly rolled out the Women in Cyber Mentorship Program.
According to the bank, the initiative aims to solve the cybersecurity skills shortage in East Africa while closing the gender gap in the industry.
Further, Standard Chartered indicated that the opportunities were open for early-career women in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, who are interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity.
The program will be delivered through a hybrid structure, involving both in-person and online learning.
Globally, only 22% of cybersecurity roles are held by women, and the industry faces a shortfall of 2.5 million professionals. Africa alone has fewer than 300,000 cybersecurity experts, leaving the continent vulnerable to rising digital threats.
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Details of the Standard Chartered scholarships
Participants will receive world-class technical training, mentorship from seasoned cybersecurity professionals, and CPD (Continuous Professional Development) credits upon completing the program.
“Digital adoption is accelerating across East Africa, but inclusive growth will stall if half the population remains under-represented in cybersecurity.
“By investing in mentorship, we are tackling both the skills gap and the diversity gap, ensuring women have the expertise and confidence to lead secure digital transformation,” said Jaine Mwai, Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Standard Chartered during the launch.
Offered at Strathmore University, the program has structured online learning featuring technical modules and soft skills courses, fireside chats with global cybersecurity experts and mentorship from experienced cyber professionals, including male allies.
Additionally, successful candidates will benefit from CPD-accredited training sessions to build recognized, industry-standard competence.
Also, they will enjoy networking opportunities with regulators, academic institutions, and tech employers.
“Cyber risk is a shared responsibility. Through this partnership with Standard Chartered, we’re combining academic rigor with real-world mentorship to build confident, skilled leaders ready to take on Africa’s cybersecurity challenges,” the Dean of the School of Computing at Strathmore University said.
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How to Apply
Applications are officially open and will close on June 30, 2025.
Interested applicants can apply through the program website at https://womenincybersec.strathmore.edu/.
The first training cohort of up to 100 mentees will begin their learning journey in August 2025.
The program was launched under the theme “Collaboration and Partnerships, Women in Cybersecurity, bringing together key stakeholders from government, academia, and the private sector at Standard Chartered’s Nairobi headquarters.
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