UNITAR Launches Digital Skills Scheme for African Women, Youth

• 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.

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.

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.

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

"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.