- The culmination of UNITAR's “Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa: Enhancing Employment Opportunities and Livelihood Development in the Digital Economy” training programme will be held in Nairobi (6–7 March 2024).
- The top 25 learners from 24 sub-Saharan African countries, selected from a pool of 7,000 learners, will participate in an intensive workshop and mentoring session with experts in the field.
UNITAR
5 March 2024, Nairobi, Kenya – Twenty-five participants from 24 sub-Saharan African countries will join the third and final phase of the “Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa: Enhancing Employment Opportunities and Livelihood Development in the Digital Economy” training programme in Nairobi (6-7 March 2024). Participants will take part in in-person workshops and receive expert insights from industry practitioners.
The UNITAR training programme aims to enhance the employability and competitiveness of African women and young people in the global workforce. It seeks to equip them with the array of digital skills needed to create sustainable prosperity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the future of work in an ever more digital-driven world. Participants learn to unlock their potential and build sustainable ventures and businesses that improve the economic health of their communities. UNITAR is collaborating with Microsoft, IBM and Pasona Group to deliver the programme.
PROGRAMME LAUNCH AND MID-REVIEW
UNITAR
In the first two phases of the programme, which began in November 2023, participants completed self-paced e-modules and webinars, received online coaching and mentoring support and participated in a hackathon. They were assigned to the tracks offered by either Microsoft or IBM and followed one of two learning pathways: foundational, upskilling, and industry-specific.
They explored topics including systems administration, data analysis, software development, project management, business analysis and artificial intelligence, as well as practiced soft skills such as analytical thinking, leadership and lifelong learning.
Selected participants from the first phase also came together in Nairobi in January 2024 for a mid-programme meet and greet, where they met experts, networked and discussed their learning progress. The meet and greet was attended by the Ambassador of Japan to Kenya Mr. Ken Okaniwa, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office Ms. Chisa Mikami, partner representatives and industry experts. Ambassador Okaniwa emphasized the importance of training programmes such as this one to provide essential and immediately usable digital and livelihood development skills to young people and women.
CULMINATION IN NAIROBI
For the final phase of the programme, the 25 selected participants will converge in Nairobi for two days, where they will present their project ideas, network and receive in-person mentoring and training. The event will be attended by Mr Fumihiro Uchikoshi, Second Secretary, Commercial and Trade Attaché at the Embassy of Japan in Kenya, who will give a keynote speech, as well as by industry experts, programme partners, distinguished guests and UNITAR Division for Prosperity Director Ms Mihoko Kumamoto.
Industry experts and programme partners Microsoft and IBM will share their insights on future workforce skills, cybersecurity and the digital economy. Japanese companies in Kenya will lead a workshop on the evolution of the industry in the digital age, and the training participants will discuss their overall learning journey. Dignitaries, government officials and partner representatives will also have a round-table discussion on “Catalysing Sustainable Growth and Innovation in Africa: A Multilateral Approach to Boosting Women and Youth Employability and Livelihood Development through ICT”.
The training programme is funded by the Government and People of Japan, as part of Japan’s commitment to support quality growth and human security in Africa through inclusiveness, sustainability, resilience and capacity-building.