Call for Applications: Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa

The training programme will provide high-demand digital skills to increase employment and income-generating potential as well as guide participants on developing socially responsible digital start-ups and build leadership and entrepreneurial skills to drive change and innovation.

The programme will run from September 2023 to February 2024 and have online and in-person elements.

Hiroshima, Japan – Women and youth in 24 countries in Africa are invited to apply to the UNITAR programme 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.

Phases

• The programme 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 Criteria

• The programme 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
• In particular, we are looking for 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.

For more information, visit UNITAR.