Congolese officials have introduced an online learning platform aimed at equipping young people with skills in information and communication technologies (ICT).
Developed by the African Research Center on Artificial Intelligence (CARIA), the platform was officially presented to Léon Juste Ibombo, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy.
“I am pleased with the platform presented to me. We will continue collaborating with the Minister of Scientific Research to gather additional input before officially launching it,” said the minister. “Our goal during this phase is to provide young people with quality training that can transform them into leading developers and entrepreneurs.”
The platform is set to offer approximately 3,000 online courses across various fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and technological innovation. In a country where nearly half the population is under 18 and youth unemployment is around 42% — as reported by the World Bank — authorities see digital technology as a key driver of transformation. The aim is to prepare young people for the 230 million jobs expected across sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 that will require digital skills, thereby enhancing their employability in emerging digital professions.
In line with these efforts, Congo is exploring membership in the ‘Give1project,’ which seeks to train 25,000 young Africans in digital skills with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Microsoft, and France. Additionally, partnerships have been established with the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and other international stakeholders.
These initiatives form part of the national digital transformation strategy, ‘Vision Congo Digital 2025,’ and the broader digital acceleration project, which is funded with $100 million from the World Bank. Strengthening citizens’ digital capabilities is a strategic priority within this vision.
Although still in its pre-launch phase, the platform must undergo several steps before becoming fully operational. Its success will depend on ensuring broad access, high-quality modules, and the ability to connect training opportunities with concrete employment prospects, especially through international collaborations.
