Women and youth in 24 countries in Africa are invited to apply to the UNITAR program Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa: Enhancing Employment Opportunities and Livelihood Development in the Digital Economy. 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.
UNITAR training programme aims to enhance the employability and competitiveness of African women and youth in the global workforce, readying them with 4IR and future of work digital skills in a digital-driven world. Through partnership and collaboration, the participants will be mentored along their journey to unlock their potential and build sustainable ventures and businesses to improve the economic health of their communities, people and the planet.
The programme will run from September 2023 to February 2024 and have online and in-person elements.
Programme
The programme is divided into 3 phases with participants incrementally advancing to the next phases.
- Phase I – Online Training (September to December 2023): Participants will complete self-paced asynchronous e-modules on a digital learning platform, augmented by webinars and online coaching and mentoring support.
- Phase II – Self-led Projects and Virtual Boot Camp/Application (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 have access to additional training on community-building and leadership skills and create a strong network of trainers for future cohorts.
- An online platform will be set up to facilitate information-sharing and connect employers, the African diaspora, and jobseekers in the digital sector to promote employment and innovation at country, regional and global levels.
- The Programme will be delivered in English.
UNITAR Training Content
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
The programme will prioritize participants from the following 24 countries: 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 and Zimbabwe.
In particular, this programme is looking for women and youth who:
- Are keen to learn by doing, with 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 graduate and are tech savvy.
Application Timeline
Deadline: September 4, 2023
How to Apply for UNITAR training programme
Click HERE To Apply
