A significant partnership has emerged in the African tech landscape, with Gebeya, a leading Pan-African talent cloud company, joining forces with tech giant NVIDIA. This collaboration aims to tackle the continent’s growing demand for AI expertise by upskilling 50,000 developers across Africa.
The initiative will unfold in a phased rollout, beginning with a pilot program to test its effectiveness. Following a successful proof-of-concept, the program will be scaled to encompass all African countries within a three-year timeframe.
This partnership offers a compelling value proposition for participating developers. They will gain access to a comprehensive learning ecosystem, including training resources and certifications from the renowned NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute. Additionally, they will be integrated into NVIDIA’s vibrant developer community, fostering knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
Gebeya’s involvement in this initiative is particularly noteworthy due to its recent transformation. Previously established as an edtech startup in 2017, Gebeya has evolved into a comprehensive talent cloud provider. Its SaaS-powered platform caters to diverse organizational needs, encompassing public, private, strategic, and sourcing talent clouds.
Under this new partnership, Gebeya’s existing Talent Cloud will be further enhanced. By leveraging its AI-driven technology, the platform will offer a comprehensive suite of services, including skills training, recruitment support, talent vetting, and matchmaking. Importantly, it will also integrate learning paths from the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute, culminating in industry-recognized NVIDIA certifications.
The significance of this collaboration extends beyond developer upskilling. It aspires to address the critical need to bridge the AI skills gap in Africa. By equipping developers with specialized expertise in NVIDIA technologies, the program aims to propel innovation and growth within the continent’s burgeoning tech sector.
Both Gebeya and NVIDIA leaders expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential impact. Wei Xiao, Director of Developer Relations at NVIDIA, emphasized the initiative’s ability to establish Africa as a hub for AI expertise, attracting investments and bolstering global competitiveness. Amadou Daffe, CEO of Gebeya, identified the partnership’s potential to unify fragmented tech communities, accelerate industry growth, and position Africa as a leading center for NVIDIA expertise.
This initiative builds upon Gebeya’s established commitment to talent development in Africa. In December 2023, the company partnered with Microsoft to launch a similar platform (Microsoft.Gebeya.com) focused on upskilling developers in eight African nations. Gebeya is not alone in the talent cloud space – Andela, a prominent tech talent outsourcing startup based in Africa, launched its Andela Talent Cloud in December 2023. This integrated platform connects skilled professionals with businesses, streamlining the hiring process for both parties.
The collaboration between Gebeya and NVIDIA represents a significant step forward in addressing the skills gap in Africa’s tech industry. By empowering developers with cutting-edge AI expertise, this initiative has the potential to unlock Africa’s full potential as a global tech powerhouse.