Call for Applications: Women and Youth in 24 African Countries for 6-Month Digital Skills Training Programme by Unitar, Government, People of Japan

Richard Powell18 August 2023, 13:07 UTC 2 min read

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in partnership with the Government and people of Japan, invite women and youth in 24 African countries to apply to the training programme “Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa: Enhancing Employment Opportunities and Livelihood Development in the Digital Economy”. The six-month programme will run from 4 September 2023 to 29 February 2024 and is offered free of charge. The deadline to apply is 4 September 2023.

In the programme, participants will learn about artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity and data analytics. The training will be conducted over 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): Participants selected from Phase I, based on their performance including their assignments and presentations, will continue to Phase II. They will apply their skills and knowledge in addressing a development challenge through self-led projects and virtual boot camps.
Phase III – Sustainability and Community Leadership Training (February 2024): Participants who reach Phase III will receive additional training in community-building and leadership skills and join a strong network as trainers for future cohorts.

Women and youth from the following countries who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply: 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 or Zimbabwe. Eligibility Criteria: 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 are encouraged to apply, as your unique experiences and skills are valued
have good oral and written English communication skills
are computer literate and have access to a laptop and 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 in keeping 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

Due to the high number of expected applications, UNITAR and its partners will select those with the strongest applications.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a dedicated training arm of the United Nations. In 2022, UNITAR trained 396,046 learners around the world to support their actions for a better future. In addition to our headquarters in Geneva, we have offices in Hiroshima, New York and Bonn and networks around the world.

The Division for Prosperity is based in the Hiroshima Office and Geneva. We seek to shape an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world through world-class learning and knowledge-sharing services on entrepreneurship, leadership, finance and trade, digital technologies, and nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We empower individuals from least developed countries, countries emerging from conflict and small-island developing states – especially women and young people – to bring about positive change.

https://www.unitar.org/sustainable-development-goals/prosperity