Digital Skills Programme for Women and Youth in Africa Launched

UNITAR Division for Prosperity launched its new training programme “Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa” on 15 November 2023 in an online event.
Guests included dignitaries, government officials, programme partners, and participants of the new programme.
The training programme will run from November 2023 to February 2024 and support 7,000 women and youth participants from 24 sub-Saharan African countries.
The programme is being offered in partnership with Microsoft, IBM and Pasona, with general financial support from the Government and People of Japan.

UNITAR

28 November 2023, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR Division for Prosperity held a launch and orientation for the Japan-funded training programme “Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa: Enhancing Employment Opportunities and Livelihood Development in the Digital Economy”. The programme aims to enhance the employability and competitiveness of African women and youth in the global workforce, readying them with the “4th Industrial Revolution (4IR)” and future-of-work digital skills in a digital-driven world. The programme focuses on 24 Anglophone African countries and will run from November 2023 to February 2024.

UNITAR

Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, Director of the UNITAR Division for Prosperity, expressed her excitement that the programme is one of the largest conducted by UNITAR in sub-Saharan Africa, with 7,000 women and youth participants from 24 sub-Saharan African countries. She commended the participants for their passion to continue learning and cultivate entrepreneurial skills and mindset. She hoped they would enhance their employment opportunities, strengthen their professional careers and meet the needs of the digital economy.

Ms. Monicah Wangeci, Africa Programme Coordinator, Division for Prosperity UNITAR, highlighted the importance of promoting digital skills and technologies and digital literacy to transform economies and bridge the digital divide. She explained how upskilled African women and youth could create innovative digital services, drive social change and sustainable economic development and benefit the African continent.

H.E. Ken Okaniwa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Kenya highlighted that collaborations between Japan and UNITAR have covered topics from the SDGs to peace and development and that it was significant the new programme addressed the digital divide in Africa and the digital divide between genders. He gave examples of Kenyan companies that were successfully leveraging digital technologies and businesses started by youth or women in Kenya, in some cases receiving investments from Japanese companies.

The participants then joined webinars to learn more about the tracks they will be pursuing in the training programme. Participants have been split into the Microsoft or IBM track based on their interests. Each track will go through self-paced learning, a self-led project, a boot camp, webinar or hackathon and a community and sustainability workshop. The webinars featured overviews of the Microsoft and IBM Learning Pathways, a SkillsBuild registration and demo, and question-and-answer sessions.

Mr. Michael Adalla, Project Lead, UNITAR Division for Prosperity, closed the orientation and thanked everyone who participated. He reiterated his hopes that participants would embrace the opportunities offered by this robust training programme. He expressed UNITAR’s gratitude towards our programme partners for their participation in the development activities.

LAUNCH EVENT AGENDA

Opening remarks and programme overview

Ms. Monicah Wangeci, Africa Programme Coordinator, Division for Prosperity UNITAR
H.E. Ken Okaniwa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Kenya, Embassy of Japan in Kenya
Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, Director, Division for Prosperity, UNITAR
Ms. Caroline Mutepfa Microsoft Digital Inclusion Director, Central and Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa
Mr. Sidi Ali Maelainin, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, IBM
Mr. Michael Adalla, Project Lead, Division for Prosperity, UNITAR
Mr. Makiya Nambu, Executive Director, Pasona Group Inc.

Microsoft track webinar

Ms. Winnie Karanu, Microsoft Philanthropies Lead, sub-Saharan Africa
Ms. Caroline Mutepfa Microsoft Digital Inclusion Director, Central and Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa
Mr. Harry Morgan, Digital Inclusion Enablement & Communications Lead, Middle East, Africa & UK, Microsoft

IBM track webinar

Ms. Donia Kok, Learning Experience Designer, IBM
Mr. John Matogo -Corporate Social Responsibility Leader MEA, IBM
Mr. Sidi Ali Maelainin. Corporate Citizen Manager Africa, IBM
Ms. Fatima Zahra Bouzidy, Corporate Social Responsibility Project Manager, IBM - EMEA
Mr. Rofhiwa Masia, Corporate Social Responsibility Digital Success Manager, IBM - Africa

ABOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAMME

“Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa” will provide high-demand digital skills to increase employment and income-generating potential and guide participants to develop socially responsible digital start-ups and build leadership and entrepreneurial skills—driving change and innovation. The programme will cover topics such as systems administration, data analysis, software development, project management, business analysis, generative AI, cybersecurity and sustainable technologies.

The training programme will run from November 2023 to February 2024 in online and in-person formats. It will include self-paced learning, a self-led project, boot camps, webinars, hackathons and a community and sustainability workshop. Thanks to generous financial support from the Government and People of Japan, this programme is being offered to the participants free of charge.

ABOUT UNITAR

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a dedicated training arm of the United Nations. In 2022, UNITAR trained over 395,000 learners around the world to support their actions for a better future. In addition to our headquarters in Geneva, we have offices in Hiroshima, New York and Bonn and networks around the world.

The Division for Prosperity is based in the Hiroshima Office and Geneva. We seek to shape an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world through world-class learning and knowledge-sharing services on entrepreneurship, leadership, finance and trade, digital technologies, and nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We empower individuals from least-developed countries, countries emerging from conflict, and small-island developing states – especially women and young people – to bring about positive change.

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