AfDB launches digital platform to help African youth learn how to code

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and technology giant, Microsoft have launched the Coding for Employment digital training platform, an online tool to provide digital skills to African youth.

The platform, which is accessible on mobile devices, even in low internet connectivity settings, with an affordable, easy-to-navigate, secured and private interface, teaches technical courses such as web development, design, data science and digital marketing.

The Coding for Employment Programme is a crucial part of the African Development Bank’s strategic agenda to create 25 million jobs by 2025, and to equip 50 million African youth with competitive skills.

The Bank piloted the programme in five countries — Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire — in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation and Microsoft.

Currently with 14 ultra-modern centres specialising in ICT and entrepreneurship skills trainings for youth, the program plans to scale up to 130 centres of excellence across the continent over a 10-year period with the goal of delivering demand-driven, agile and collaborative skills to empower young people to become innovative players in the digital economy.