Moringa School, a software edutech startup, has teamed up with Safaricom and M-PESA Africa in a venture aimed at arming developers across Africa with the skills necessary to construct innovative solutions utilizing digital APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).
This collaborative endeavor is geared towards expediting the expansion of the M-PESA ecosystem and tackling the significant shortage of technical talent on the continent.
Recognizing the imperative need for a proficient developer pool to sustain its burgeoning ecosystem, M-PESA acknowledges the importance of this partnership in directly addressing the deficit of technical talent across the continent.
This scarcity of developers among key stakeholders results in talent shortages, particularly affecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-SMEs, hindering their access to the talent essential for leveraging the growing smartphone and digital payments market.
Fiona Kirua, Acting CEO of Moringa School, emphasizes the necessity of skilled developers to keep pace with Africa’s flourishing digital landscape, stating, “This partnership signifies a significant stride in our commitment to equipping developers with the requisite skills to propel innovation in the digital domain.”
On his part, Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, Managing Director of M-PESA Africa, acknowledges the talent gap, stating, “We are collaborating with Moringa School to train more developers across the continent in API and mobile app development. These skills are crucial given the increasing adoption of smartphones and digital financial solutions and will empower more businesses, especially SMEs, to integrate their products and solutions into digital ecosystems like the M-PESA Super App.”
The partnership introduces a tailored curriculum by Moringa School, focusing on the development of M-PESA mini-apps, which serve as potent tools for businesses and organizations to integrate their services within the M-PESA Super App, reaching over 60 million users across Safaricom and Vodacom networks.
Key areas of emphasis in the curriculum include API development and integration, UI/UX frameworks, and mini-app development.
Furthermore, the collaboration unveils an extensive certification program. Developers who successfully complete the training will be awarded certification, acknowledging their expertise and enhancing their professional growth. This aspect is anticipated to elevate standards and competitiveness within the M-PESA ecosystem.
