Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in Seychelles in 2026

Table of Contents

• A Tasting Menu for Your Tech Career
• AFCHIX - Africa Women in Technology
• Women in Tech Global Conference
• Helmut Veith Stipend
• UniSey Computing and IT Programmes
• ESA Women in Business Forum
• UNDP Accelerator Labs (Seychelles)
• SIT National Diploma and Short Courses
• Airtel Africa Foundation 'Tech For Her'
• UNESCO AWITAI African Women in Tech and AI
• Ladies in Tech (LIT) - Seychelles
• The Only Score That Matters
• Frequently Asked Questions

AFCHIX - Africa Women in Technology

AFCHIX serves as a pan-African lifeline for women in technology, offering mentorship, webinars, and professional development across the continent. While it does not maintain a standalone Seychelles chapter, its regional reach - particularly into cybersecurity and online safety - makes it a practical resource for women working in Victoria's growing fintech and telecoms sectors. Membership is free for all African women in tech, offering access to cybersecurity webinars listed on AFCHIX's events page and a supportive community of peers.

For Seychellois women, the value lies in what the local market cannot yet provide. With fewer than 500 professional ICT roles across the main islands and a documented shortage of local IT personnel, building a network beyond the 115 islands becomes essential. AFCHIX connects you to opportunities and mentors in Mauritius, South Africa, and other markets where fintech and cybersecurity are more mature. You can upskill without leaving Mahe, joining webinars on topics increasingly relevant to employers like Absa Seychelles and the Central Bank.

The entry-level salary of SCR12,000-18,000 for ICT roles in Seychelles makes international travel for conferences prohibitive. AFCHIX removes that barrier. Whether you are a recent UniSey graduate or a mid-career professional eyeing senior roles paying SCR35,000+, this network gives you regional exposure without the visa fees or flight costs. It is a tasting plate of continental opportunity - and the only investment required is your time.

Women in Tech Global Conference

Held annually in Cape Town with a robust virtual option, the Women in Tech Global Summit offers Seychellois women access to 500+ global leaders from multinational employers like Google, Microsoft, and Standard Bank. The conference features dedicated mentoring sessions, private networking lounges, and scholarship programmes targeting women from emerging markets. For professionals eyeing fintech roles at Absa Seychelles or the Central Bank, this is a CV credential that signals ambition beyond the islands.

The Women in Tech Global Summit's virtual attendance model removes the cost barrier that makes international travel prohibitive. Rather than spending SCR15,000 on flights and accommodation, you can participate from your home in Victoria or even from Beau Vallon, connecting with mentors in AI, fintech, and cybersecurity without leaving the Seychelles time zone. The summit also runs dedicated scholarship programmes specifically for women from small island developing states.

What sets this resource apart is its regional focus. The Cape Town edition in 2026 will feature African women leaders tackling challenges relevant to Seychelles - Blue Economy digitisation, tourism tech, and financial inclusion. Previous attendees have described the conference as "a career accelerator" for women who are often the only female in their local tech team. It is one of the few opportunities to see what a senior SCR35,000+ salary career path actually looks like, because you meet the women already earning it.

Helmut Veith Stipend

For a Seychellois woman aiming to master artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or data science, the Helmut Veith Stipend provides a fully funded Master's degree at TU Wien in Austria. It covers tuition, living costs, and travel for a two-year programme in computer science or a related field. The scholarship specifically targets women from developing countries, making Seychellois applicants eligible for this rare opportunity to gain world-class technical skills that are difficult to acquire locally.

This stipend addresses a critical gap. The UN Economic Commission for Africa's national review identifies a significant shortage of local IT personnel in Seychelles. A graduate returning with advanced qualifications from TU Wien becomes one of the few Seychellois women with deep technical expertise - positioning you for senior roles at Airtel, Cable & Wireless, or the Central Bank that pay SCR35,000+ per month. That is more than double the entry-level ICT salary of SCR12,000-18,000.

More details on eligibility and the application process are available through ScholarshipTab's dedicated listings for Seychelles women. The stipend is competitive, but the payoff is transformative: you train abroad, return home as a leader, and help build the local tech ecosystem that Seychelles urgently needs. It is a two-year investment that changes the entire trajectory of a career.

UniSey Computing and IT Programmes

At the University of Seychelles' Anse Royale campus, the Computing and IT programmes offer a locally grounded path into the tech sector. Students earn Bachelor's degrees in Computer Science or Diplomas in Computing and IT, with curricula covering programming, database management, and systems analysis - all tailored to the needs of Seychellois employers rather than generic international theory. The Agency for National Human Resource Development provides full scholarships covering tuition and often living costs, removing the financial barriers that keep many women from pursuing technical education.

The value of a UniSey qualification is its local currency. Employers like Cable & Wireless Seychelles and Airtel trust these graduates because they have studied real projects relevant to the islands' infrastructure - building point-of-sale systems for Victoria's markets, designing databases for the Seychelles Tourism Board, or coding solutions for the Blue Economy. This practical focus means you enter the workforce with skills that directly translate into entry-level roles, setting you on a path toward senior positions in banking and telecoms.

For women balancing care responsibilities, studying in Anse Royale keeps you close to family and community in Victoria, avoiding the dislocation of relocating abroad. The familiarity with Seychellois business culture and Creole professional networks is irreplaceable. As you build relationships with lecturers and classmates, you are also building the small-island professional web that will carry you through your career - a network no international degree can replicate.

ESA Women in Business Forum

On 5th March 2026, the Enterprise Seychelles Agency welcomed tertiary students and entrepreneurs to the Women in Business Forum at the ICCS auditorium in Victoria. Themed "Give to Gain," the event connected aspiring technologists with founders who have already built successful ventures in the Seychellois market, including Ingrid Saurer of Belliche and Zarah Ally of ZBest. More than just a networking session, the forum offered participants practical advice on scaling businesses in a small-island economy where access to capital and mentorship often determines success.

Beyond the annual gathering, the ESA runs the Xport Accelerator Programme, which provides targeted grants of up to SCR75,000 for women-led SMEs. For a Seychellois woman building a tech startup, this represents one of the few local funding sources that does not require navigating complex international donor applications. The programme specifically targets ventures in digital services, tourism tech, and the Blue Economy - sectors where Seychelles holds strategic advantage.

"Mentorship is the cornerstone of success," stated Dylis Cedras, CEO of ESA, at the 2026 forum. She emphasised that dedicated women's forums provide "practical advice for building a successful career." In a tech market where fewer than 500 professional ICT roles exist across Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue, direct access to entrepreneurs who have navigated local barriers is invaluable. Whether you are coding a fintech prototype or launching an e-commerce platform, the ESA forum transforms high-level policy into actionable guidance - served with the warmth of genuine community support.

UNDP Accelerator Labs (Seychelles)

Across Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue, the UNDP Accelerator Labs run free workshops, hackathons, and digital skills training designed specifically for women and girls aged 15 to 35. The programme targets Seychellois communities where the gender gap in digital literacy is widest, offering hands-on experience with coding, data literacy, and online safety. Follow the United Nations in Seychelles for announcements about upcoming labs and training sessions in your district.

What makes this resource uniquely valuable is its physical presence. Unlike international bootcamps that require reliable internet and a quiet space, the Accelerator Labs meet participants where they live. For women on outer islands like Coetivy or Silhouette, or those in Victoria balancing work and family, this eliminates two major barriers: connectivity and transport. As one participant featured on the UN's website put it, "Computers helped me in life - I want the same for girls everywhere." The labs turn that aspiration into a practical pathway.

The long-term value extends beyond the workshop itself. Participants gain access to UNDP's regional networks, which can lead to internships and project work with organisations focused on the Blue Economy and digital transformation. In a tech market where fewer than 500 professional ICT roles exist nationally, every connection counts. The labs provide a low-risk starting point for women considering a career shift into tech, helping you build confidence and credentials before you apply for that first role at a local bank or telecoms provider.

SIT National Diploma and Short Courses

At the Seychelles Institute of Technology in Providence, the National Diploma in Information Systems Engineering provides a hands-on route into Victoria's tech workforce. The programme covers programming, systems analysis, and network management, while short professional courses - offered part-time on Saturdays - range from basic coding to advanced cybersecurity. The National Diploma in Information Systems Engineering is designed for women aged 18 to 35 with minimum secondary education, and the part-time structure accommodates those balancing work and family responsibilities.

The practical, locally grounded curriculum directly feeds into entry-level roles at Airtel Seychelles, Cable & Wireless, and local banks - employers who trust SIT graduates because they have trained on systems relevant to the islands. In a sector where the government has documented a critical shortage of local IT personnel, this diploma is among the most direct routes to a technical position in Victoria. The SCR12,000-18,000 entry-level salary in ICT becomes accessible through this qualification, with a clear path toward senior roles paying SCR35,000+ in banking and telecoms.

The short courses carry an additional advantage: participants earn an official OIF certificate recognised across Francophone Africa, as detailed on the SIT Facebook page for professional digital skills training. This opens opportunities beyond the 115 islands, connecting you to regional job markets in Mauritius and Madagascar. For women who cannot commit to full-time study, SIT's blend of practical training and flexible scheduling makes it the most accessible technical education option in Seychelles.

Airtel Africa Foundation 'Tech For Her'

Launched in 2025, the Airtel Africa Foundation's "Tech For Her" programme delivers a five-week intensive online bootcamp covering Linux, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics. Designed specifically for African women aged 18 to 35, the training is fully online, meaning you can participate from your home in Praslin, La Digue, or any corner of Mahe without relocating to Victoria. Applications are advertised through Airtel Seychelles' official career page, and the programme is free for shortlisted candidates.

What sets this resource apart is its direct pipeline into employment. Graduates receive mentorship from Airtel Africa staff and automatic access to the Airtel graduate trainee programme, which places Seychellois women into roles paying SCR12,000-18,000 per month from day one. In a local tech market with fewer than 500 professional ICT roles, this is not just training - it is a guaranteed entry point into one of Seychelles' largest employers. The curriculum focuses on skills Airtel actually needs, making your learning immediately relevant to real job requirements.

The bootcamp's five-week, online format is deliberately manageable for women balancing work and family commitments. You are not asked to quit your current job or travel abroad. According to IT News Africa's coverage of the initiative, the programme aims to equip women with high-demand skills that bridge Africa's digital skills gap. For Seychellois women, the value is clear: a short-term commitment with a long-term payoff, culminating in a role at a company where senior positions can reach SCR35,000+ per month.

UNESCO AWITAI African Women in Tech and AI

The curriculum covers exactly what the Seychelles market needs: how to apply AI to tourism personalisation, Blue Economy data analysis, and financial inclusion. In a country where the government has identified a critical shortage of local IT personnel, being among the first Seychellois women with formal AI training positions you to lead the digital transformation underway at the Central Bank, the Seychelles Tourism Board, and the growing fintech ecosystem in Victoria. Entry-level ICT roles pay SCR12,000-18,000, but senior AI-related positions in banking already reach SCR35,000+ as demand accelerates.

Beyond the technical skills, graduates join a powerful peer network of 150 women across Africa who are working on similar challenges - from tourism chatbots in Mauritius to climate data modelling in the Comoros. This cohort becomes your referral network, your sounding board, and your proof that Seychellois women belong at the forefront of AI innovation. The programme is fully funded and open to entrepreneurs with a business idea that can benefit from AI, making it accessible beyond the traditional university track.

Ladies in Tech (LIT) - Seychelles

In a tech market where fewer than 500 professional ICT roles exist across the main islands, the WhatsApp group is where real career movement happens. A member posts a referral for a junior developer role at Cable & Wireless. Another shares a tip about a part-time cybersecurity course opening up. A third celebrates landing a role at Absa and offers to review CVs for anyone next in line. Entry-level salaries start at SCR12,000-18,000, but the senior roles paying SCR35,000+ in banking and telecoms - those rarely appear on public job boards. They circulate in groups like LIT.

LIT addresses a challenge that no formal training programme can solve: isolation. When you are one of only two women on a team of fifteen developers at a Victoria-based firm, having a community of peers who understand that experience is vital. As one featured Seychellois professional noted, women here "carry big energy and sunshine" and are "highly ambitious" decision-makers. LIT provides the relational infrastructure to turn that ambition into tangible career growth, one WhatsApp message, one referral, one sak fwa at a time.

The Only Score That Matters

Lists rank. Community feeds. The cook who stayed late after the Victoria market competition to teach a younger woman the secret to her coconut chutney won something that morning, even without taking first place. She passed on a technique that would nourish not just one meal, but a whole kitchen of cooks for years to come. That is the model for your career: not chasing a position on a leaderboard, but investing in the relationships that will feed your growth long after the judging is done.

Women in leadership drive Seychelles' national growth, and the most powerful resource on this list is not the one with the highest profile or the biggest scholarship. It is the one that sees you, mentors you, and helps you grow from SCR12,000 to SCR35,000. The late-night WhatsApp message from a Ladies in Tech member sharing a job lead. The founder at the ESA forum who offers to review your business plan. The UniSey lecturer who recommends you for a UNDP workshop. Those moments are the real ingredients of a career.

"Seychellois women carry big energy and sunshine, and are highly ambitious decision-makers who deserve equal rights to be heard in global tech spaces." - Krisha, Seychellois professional abroad, featured for International Women's Day 2026

Use this list as your tasting menu, your starting point. Try a meetup at LIT, apply for the Airtel bootcamp, show up at the next ESA forum, connect with a mentor from AFCHIX, or apply for the UNESCO AWITAI programme. Sak fwa, each time, you will be building something that no ranking can capture: a career nourished by community, grounded in the unique strengths of these 115 islands, and ready to lead the digital transformation that Seychelles needs.

Frequently Asked Questions