Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) in collaboration with IBM will empower young women and men in Africa and the Middle East with the digital skills, workforce readiness proficiencies, and business knowledge needed for successful careers, social wellbeing, and economic growth.
DOT will work with local organisations to help young people tap into IBM’s free Open P-TECH’s (ptech.org) career readiness curricula.
IBM Vice President and Global Head, Corporate Social Responsibility Justina Nixon-Saintil said the platform equips learners with competencies in foundational technologies used in all industries, such as AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity, along with professional workplace skills like design thinking, teaming, and presentations.
Ms Nixon said together, the organisations will aim to reach at least 40,000 young people in 8 countries – Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, Jordan and Lebanon. 70% of the youth will be young women.
She said providing career skills to youth, particularly young women and those from under-resourced communities, can be life changing.
Ms Nixon said with resources like IBM Open P-Tech bolstered by the efforts of organizations like Digital Opportunity Trust, aim to advance equity and create access to opportunity.”
She said the collaboration brings together complementary experience and assets: IBM with its technology and business expertise, and DOT with its extensive channels to youth and local community ecosystems. DOT’s research shows that young people with these skills become the leaders and contributors to the digital transformation of their communities, countries, and economies.
DOT Founder and CEO Janet Longmore said DOT and IBM have a history working together and developing the mutual trust that underpins successful collaboration.
Ms Longmore said this partnership, around the Open P-TECH platform, is an example of how the private sector and a social enterprise with “feet on the street” can mobilize their assets to benefit youth and young women in marginalized, rural and remote communities.
“We share a belief that youth want opportunities to be the innovators and catalysts of digital transformation, shaping the future of work in an inclusive world.” she said
