Thirty-four young women have graduated from the inaugural Data Empowerment, Actualization and Leadership (DEAL) Programme, a digital skills initiative spearheaded by DataWired in partnership with the United States Embassy in Zimbabwe.

The graduation ceremony, held at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, marked the successful completion of a 12-week intensive training programme designed to equip young women with in demand data and technology skills for employment and entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe's growing digital economy.

Founded by Gcinithemba Sherilyn Maphosa, DataWired is a data consultancy and training organisation that helps individuals and institutions leverage data to make informed decisions. The DEAL programme, which launched in January 2026, initially targeted 50 participants and graduated 34 women who completed the rigorous online training and mentorship programme free of charge.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Maphosa said the programme was established to bridge the gap between education and employment opportunities in the technology sector.

"The reason why this cohort programme is there is because we realised that in Zimbabwe there is a gap from the information that you know to you looking to find a job or entrepreneurship," she said. "What we wanted was to build the next generation of women who are empowered with the rightful skills so that they can be in the jobs that they need to be in, perform well, be competent and also be in a position to start their own organisations."

She emphasised the growing importance of data in today's economy, describing it as a critical resource driving innovation and decision-making across industries.

"What we do know is definitely data is the new oil, as we like to joke around, because we understand that most organisations and even our own lives are revolving around data," said Maphosa.

Beyond technical training, participants were paired with experienced female professionals working in various leadership positions across the data and technology sectors. The mentors provided career guidance, skills development support and personal coaching throughout the programme.

"Some were sitting on boards, some were sitting in managerial positions to guide them in the direction that they need to go should they also want to be in that same position," Maphosa said. "They guided them on the skills that they need to learn because sometimes the internet has a lot of information, but organising that information to be helpful to you as an individual can be quite tricky."

While the DEAL programme specifically focuses on empowering women, Maphosa noted that DataWired also collaborates with other organisations, including Data Science Zimbabwe, which run programmes that cater to both men and women.

Speaking at the event, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Phil Nervig commended the graduates and highlighted the significance of investing in women's participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

"What you've built here is a pipeline of women who will shape Zimbabwe's digital future, and it reflects the positive impact of U.S. exchange programmes and American investment in global STEM talent," Nervig said.

He also acknowledged the role played by the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) in supporting the programme and described the partnership between DataWired, HIT and the U.S. Embassy as a model for sustainable development.

"Sustainable progress happens when local institutions lead, innovate and anchor programmes within their own communities," he said. "By working together, with support from the United States, we ensure that skills development, research and technology transfer remains locally grounded, nationally relevant and capable of driving long-term economic growth."