(CAPE TOWN) – African Development Bank’s Coding for Employment Program has selected 500 young people from Côte d’Ivoire (75), Kenya (100), Nigeria (150) and Senegal (175) as Digital Ambassadors.
The selected Digital Ambassadors will embark on a three-month course during which they will be equipped with in-demand digital skills, such as software development, as well as soft skills, such as problem solving, project management and communication. They will then lead a peer-to-peer training model that seeks to expand digital skills to more African youth, especially in rural communities with limited internet connectivity.
According to Martha Phiri, AfDB’s Director for Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development, “the Digital Ambassadors Program has come at the right time when the Bank is putting finishing touches to the Skills for Employability and Productivity in Africa Action Plan 2022–2025”.
“The Action Plan will equip African youth with the skills that are in high demand; skills the labour market requires. Both will complement each other and will create positive impact on Africa’s workforce and lead to economic transformation,” stated Phiri.
The Bank and its technical partner, Microsoft, selected the Digital Ambassadors from more than 21,000 applications received from all over Africa. The Bank launched the Coding for Employment in 2018 to equip African youths with demand-driven information and communication technology skills to position them competitively for the global labour market.
