LIBREVILLE, Gabon — In a groundbreaking effort to bolster digital literacy and entrepreneurship, the Benin, Cameroon, Guinea, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been selected as the initial recipients of a new program initiated by the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). This pilot program, scheduled to last between 12 to 24 months, aims to enhance the digital competencies, employability, and entrepreneurial skills of young people and women in these nations.
The partnership is designed to offer training in high — demand fields such as web and mobile development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data analysis. Participants will also benefit from employment and self-employment support through activities like prototyping, partnerships with incubators and accelerators, and enterprise creation support.
A special focus will be placed on initiatives led by women, reflecting the commitment to empower underrepresented groups in the technology sector.
The OIF has already trained nearly 19,000 young individuals in digital careers through its D-CLIC program, which this new cooperation will build upon. This initiative comes as the demand for digital skills in Africa surges, with projections indicating over 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will be digitized by 2030.
The AfDB’s President, Sidi Ould Tah, emphasized the significance of such programs in fostering innovation and economic development. “This program is a critical step towards addressing the digital skills gap and positioning Africa as a leader in the global digital economy. “.
As the continent embraces digital transformation, programs like the OIF — AfDB partnership are vital in preparing Africa’s workforce for the digital age’s challenges and opportunities.
The success of such programs hinges on their ability to scale effectively and sustainably, ensuring equitable benefits from digitalization are shared across the continent.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Agpgabon
Source: Redaction
