Women and youth in 24 countries in Africa are invited to apply to the UNITAR program Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa: Enhancing Employment Opportunities and Livelihood Development in the Digital Economy. Over six months, participants will build high-demand digital skills to increase employment and income-generating potential to develop socially responsible digital start-ups and improve leadership and entrepreneurial skills to drive change and innovation in their communities.
The program is divided into three phases:
Phase I – Online Training (September to December 2023): Participants will complete self-paced e-modules on a digital learning platform, join webinars and receive online coaching and mentoring support.
Phase II – Self-led Projects and Virtual Boot Camp (December 2023 to January 2024): The participants will be selected from Phase I based on their performance including their assignments and presentations. Self-led projects and virtual boot camps will allow participants to apply their skills and knowledge in addressing a development challenge.
Phase III – Sustainability and Community Leadership Training (February 2024): Participants who reach phase III will receive additional training on community-building and leadership skills and create a strong network of trainers for future cohorts.
Topics Covered
The modules will cover:
Digital infrastructure & connectivity
Digital innovation and transformation
Frontier technologies including AI, big data, robotics, blockchain, IoT, and VR
Software development
Cybersecurity & Data protection
Digital media
Project management
Digital Inclusion and the digital Gender divide
Digital entrepreneurship
Training of trainers
Training for coaches
Leadership and locally-led ecosystem building
Eligibility
Open to women and youth who:
are keen to learn by doing, with a passion for development and information technologies.
are between 18 and 35 years old, however, women of all ages, including those over 35, are encouraged to apply, as their unique experiences and skills are valued.
have good oral and written English communication skills.
are computer literate and have access to a laptop/internet.
are interested in leveraging opportunities brought by digital technology.
are passionate to succeed and make a positive impact on their communities.
are committed to completing the Programme.
interested to keep their tech skills up to date or break into a tech career.
can provide a recommendation letter from an individual with verifiable credentials.
are (preferably) university graduates and are tech-savvy.
The program will prioritize participants from 24 African counties, namely: Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Benefits
A certificate of completion will be issued by UNITAR to all participants who complete the course-related assignments and assessments. The program is offered free, thanks to the generous support of the Government and People of Japan.
