ACI Africa Flagship Scholarship Initiative
ElevateHer Scholarship Program
Elevating Women. Empowering African Airports.
Targeted access to certified training and leadership development opportunities for women airport professionals across Africa.
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Explore Programme
What is ElevateHer?
ElevateHer is an ACI Africa flagship scholarship initiative designed to strengthen gender inclusion and professional capacity within African airports. The programme supports women’s career progression in technical, operational and management roles.
Training Access
Provides targeted access to certified ACI Africa training and leadership development opportunities.
Women in Aviation
Supports women professionals working across technical, operational and managerial airport functions.
African Airports
Builds stronger, more inclusive and future-ready airport organisations across the region.
Why ElevateHer?
Women remain under-represented in many critical airport functions across Africa, particularly in operations, safety, engineering and leadership. ElevateHer helps airports address this gap through structured scholarship support.
- Expand access to professional training for women
- Build stronger and more diverse leadership pipelines
- Improve organisational performance and decision-making
- Retain skilled talent and enhance staff engagement
- Position African airports as inclusive and future-ready employers
What ElevateHer Delivers
Through a structured scholarship framework, ElevateHer supports selected women professionals in accessing training that strengthens both individual careers and airport organisational capacity.
Tuition Coverage
Full coverage of tuition fees for selected ACI Africa training courses.
Certified Programmes
Access to certified technical, operational and leadership programmes.
Operational Priorities
Targeted support aligned with airport operational and capacity-building needs.
Professional Visibility
Recognition and visibility of women professionals across the region.
Career Progression
Supports development pathways for women in technical, supervisory and leadership roles.
Regional Network
Builds a growing network of trained women airport professionals across Africa.
Who is ElevateHer For?
ElevateHer is designed for women employed by ACI Africa member airports, from entry-level professionals to future and current leaders.
- Women employed by ACI Africa member airports
- Entry-level, mid-career and supervisory professionals
- Women in airside operations
- Women in safety, security, engineering and maintenance
- Women in executive and senior management pathways
How the Scholarship Works
ElevateHer follows a transparent, merit-based process from call for applications to the official announcement of beneficiaries.
Call for Applications
An annual call for applications is issued to ACI Africa member airports.
Application & Endorsement
Candidates submit applications with management endorsement from their airport.
Evaluation
Applications are evaluated by an ACI Africa-appointed committee.
Selection
Beneficiaries are selected and officially announced by ACI Africa.
Key Outcomes for Airports
Participating airports benefit from stronger internal capability, more inclusive talent development and broader regional visibility for women professionals.
Higher Participation
Increase women’s participation in professional training and technical development.
Stronger Capacity
Strengthen internal technical and leadership capability across airport teams.
Inclusive Succession
Support succession planning and gender-inclusive policies.
Funding Model
ACI Africa covers training fees for selected beneficiaries, while member airports support travel and subsistence where applicable.
- ACI Africa covers selected training course fees
- Member airports support travel where applicable
- Member airports support subsistence where applicable
- Scholarships are aligned with training and airport capacity-building priorities
Strategic Alignment
The ElevateHer Scholarship Program aligns with international, continental and aviation sector commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality
- African Union Agenda 2063, Aspiration 6
- Aviation sector commitments on diversity, equity and inclusion
- ACI Africa’s commitment to inclusive capacity building
Building Inclusive Leadership for African Airports
Elevating women. Strengthening airports.
ElevateHer supports a future in which women airport professionals have greater access to training, recognition and leadership pathways in the functions that shape safe, efficient and resilient airport operations.