UNITAR 2023: Digital Skills Training for Women & Youth in Africa

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has unveiled its stellar Training Programme for 2023, targeting the bolstering of essential digital skills among women and youth across Africa. The mission? To propel employment opportunities and cultivate an environment where the digital economy thrives through community-focused start-ups and innovative leadership.

Scope of the Programme

Spanning 24 African countries, this initiative offers a six-month immersive experience. Participants will explore sought-after digital capabilities, aimed at enhancing their employability and capacity to conceive digital start-ups with a socially responsible ethos. The overarching ambition is to equip them with the entrepreneurial and leadership prowess needed to instigate change and innovation within their local communities.

Three-tiered Training Phases

1. Phase I – Online Training (September to December 2023)
   • In this phase, participants will engage in self-directed e-modules via a dedicated digital platform. This will be complemented with webinars and invaluable online mentoring and coaching sessions.
2. Phase II – Self-led Projects and Virtual Boot Camp (December 2023 to January 2024)
   • Participants progressing to this phase are hand-picked based on their stellar performance during Phase I, which takes into account assignments and presentations. It emphasises hands-on learning where participants tackle developmental challenges using their newly acquired digital skills.
3. Phase III – Sustainability and Community Leadership Training (February 2024)
   • The elite group reaching this finale will be enriched with advanced training centred on community leadership and building. Additionally, it sets the foundation for a robust network of trainers poised to guide future cohorts.

Topics on the Agenda

The curriculum, carefully crafted, covers a broad spectrum:

• Digital infrastructure and connectivity
• Digital innovation and its transformative power
• Frontier technologies: AI, big data, robotics, blockchain, IoT, VR
• Software development and cybersecurity
• Digital media and data protection
• Project management
• Addressing the digital gender divide and promoting digital inclusion
• Digital entrepreneurship
• Training modules for both trainers and coaches
• Local ecosystem development and leadership

Perks of Participation

Completing the course-related assignments and assessments guarantees participants a certificate of completion from UNITAR. An enticing proposition is that this training programme is entirely free, a gesture made possible due to the benevolence of the Government and People of Japan.

Who Should Apply?

Eligibility transcends mere geographical criteria. Ideal candidates:

• Are ardent learners with a zest for developmental initiatives and IT.
• Fall within the 18-35 age bracket, though women beyond 35 are heartily encouraged given the weightage to their unique insights and skills.
• Possess commendable proficiency in English, both spoken and written.
• Are computer literate with unhindered access to a laptop and the internet.
• Exhibit a fervour for harnessing the power of digital technology.
• Display an unwavering commitment to the programme and their community’s upliftment.
• Are preferably university graduates with a tech-savvy disposition.
• Can furnish a recommendation letter from a credible individual.
• Residents of the following African countries get precedence: 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.

How to Be a Part of This Revolutionary Journey?

The programme, blending online and in-person sessions, spans from September 2023 to February 2024.

To begin the application process, click here (https://event.unitar.org/full-catalog/developing-essential-digital-skills-women-and-youth-africa-enhancing-employment).

Should you crave more insights, delve deeper into the initiative on UNITAR’s official page.

Application Deadline: 4th September 2023

UNITAR’s 2023 training programme stands as a beacon of hope for African women and youth, championing the transformative power of digital literacy in a rapidly evolving world. Don’t miss this chance to be a part of a transformative digital frontier.