Monday, 10 October 2022

AFRICAN TECH POWER

#1milliondevsprogram Is Power Learn Project’s Flagship Programme To Train African Techies By 2027

#1milliondevsprogram Is Power Learn Project’s Flagship Programme To Train African Techies By 2027
Power Learn Project (PLP)

Goal is to drive transformative change for the youth of Africa through technology skilling

By Thandisizwe MGUDLWA

CAPE TOWN/South Africa: In the 21st century knowledge-based economic system, the wealth of our nations will not be based on what is found beneath the ground; but on what is found between the ears. Startup Business Campus is super excited to partner up with PLP on this exciting high-impact capacity building initiative; that seeks to unlock Africa’s digital economy and create pathways to sustainable prosperity for young people on the continent, says Lucky Litelu, Founder, and CEO of Startup Business Campus and head of Partnerships, Incubation & Investments.

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And at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Power Learn Project (PLP) in partnership with Adanian Labs S.A and the ICRD Group’s Startup Business Campus last month launched the #1MillionDevs4Africa Program in South Africa, in a bid to train 1 Million software developers across the continent by 2027. South Africa is the second country in Africa, after Kenya, to introduce the #1MillionDevs4Africa program. For South Africa to realize the opportunity the 4IR (4th Industrial Revolution) offers, it is imperative that the current tech capacity gap is addressed.

Moreover, in accordance with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to a “skills revolution”, PLP in partnership with Startup Business Campus, one of South Africa’s leading entrepreneurial investment hubs, are looking to build a large talent pool that are ready to build local solutions that scale globally, support the local and global tech industry, provide employment for young people, and solve pertinent local challenges. And launched in 2022 in Kenya, PLP is a Pan African impact organization with a vision of driving transformative change for the youth in Africa by empowering them with relevant technology capacity through the provision of quality, affordable and decentralized tech training. The transfer of skills, skills development, and technological capacity have been flagged as critical to developing solutions for unemployment and underemployment in South Africa, and Africa as a whole.

“Our goal is to drive transformative change for the youth of Africa through technology skilling. The program will offer online junior software development training, consisting of curated programming languages as well as a soft skills component in employability, entrepreneurship, and their mental well-being with our health partner AfyaRekod in order to enable the learners to not only acquire entry level smart technology jobs but to also be wholesome members of the community.

Through support from partners, the course will be covered on full scholarships, so the learners’ only concern is to learn and absorb as much as they can, as they prepare to navigate the digital revolution with us,” says Mumbi Ndung’u, Chief, Growth & Operations Officer for Power Learn Project.

“Upon completion of the course, learners will have access to a number of opportunities and alternative educational pathways through the organization, ranging from internships and proof of work opportunities or venture studio and incubator connections if they want to explore entrepreneurship,” states Ndung’u.

According to the PLP, it aims to kickstart software careers with entry level, fully funded training using free data access and a self-paced learning management over a period of 16 weeks. The course ranges from programming languages such as Python and Dart Programming with Flutter to Blockchain 101, Databases, Data Science, and Entrepreneurial skills. The learners will then have opportunities for hands-on practical experience through a proof of work module.

In addition, learners will earn a certificate upon successful completion of the course and join a community of young skilled Africans ready to take on digital opportunities. They will also be equipped with life skills such as financial literacy, Health and Well-being with our partner AfyaRekod, who will provide them access to their mental health data and support when in need among many more. These will help them navigate the fast paced evolving world as productive members of society.

“We are all working towards the Pan African dream of building relevant capacity to extract value from the fourth industrial revolution. We invite our partners and especially our learners from across Africa, to join us on this journey of transformation,” says John Kamara, chairman of the Power Learn Project board.

Furthermore, in the pilot phase of the South African programme, PLP aims to train 1000 software developers in South Africa over a period of four months. Over the next few months PLP is looking to launch four more pilot countries; Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda & Rwanda, with West and North Africa, envisioned for phase 2 of the programme. The scholarship program is officially accepting applications as of 1st September 2022.

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SMART YOUTH POWER

WiseYouth: Do Africa and its youth need another AU project?

 

WORLD
By Virginia Abernethy

The African Union (AU) has started another youth initiative to advance peace. WiseYouth was endorsed in February by state leaders and will create a network of practitioners under 35 years to join AU conflict prevention and mediation processes.

At face value, WiseYouth shows the AU’s commitment to dealing with youth grievances about their exclusion from peacebuilding processes. If done right, it could draw more young people into election observation, conflict mediation and dialogue. But will it be fully resourced and implemented, and can it help resolve Africa’s violent conflicts?

The initiative is intended to enhance inclusion and participation at a continental level, but there is no guarantee that it will do the same at the country level. In the past, similar projects such as FemWise Africa have barely induced action among African states. They have also struggled to overcome problems of limited financing and participation by the AU.

Nonetheless, WiseYouth could carve a niche for itself and stand out among the other similar AU youth initiatives. Membership will comprise youth with skills and experience who can initiate and sustain peace and security work. WiseYouth could draw young people into AU plans to guard democratic values, especially in the face of increasing coups and unconstitutional changes of government.

The job will mean working not just with the AU but also at the regional level. Africa’s regional economic communities must extend the WiseYouth initiative to their member countries. This will require allocating more resources and capacity to youth issues. Some regional blocs like the Southern African Development Community have yet to establish projects bigger than a youth desk in their secretariat.

WiseYouth should take lessons from other AU attempts to mainstream young people into governance and security processes. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Youth Network has existed since 2019 and has succeeded in getting youth input ahead of country reviews. The APRM has also consulted and documented vital youth-related issues. The African Governance Architecture of the AU Commission has done the same via its annual youth gatherings.

The AU must learn from these initiatives to plan a roadmap for WiseYouth. In particular, the latest project must achieve more – both for young people and for stability in Africa – than convening meetings and drafting documents.

Lessons from other AU Commission initiatives such as the Panel of the Wise and its subsidiary, FemWise-Africa, are also worth considering. Both comprise conflict prevention experts deployed by the AU to support peace efforts across the continent. Although endorsed by the AU, they still struggle for equal representation and effectiveness.

WiseYouth is intended to be a continent-wide mechanism whose members represent all five of the AU’s geographical regions. AU Commission youth leaders have short-term contracts to ensure opportunities for as many young leaders as possible. This should be adapted to enable a regional rotation to retain skilled young peacebuilders.

Four steps can ensure that WiseYouth’s goal of sustainable and inclusive youth participation in AU peace and governance efforts is achieved.

First, when WiseYouth is operational, the AU Commission should make funds available to ensure its members are present when peace and security issues are discussed and acted upon. New initiatives in the AU continue to be underfunded. A recent example is the Youth Envoy’s Office which, now with its second envoy in place, lacks the funding and technical backing to represent youth effectively.

Second, WiseYouth could bring together the best personnel in the AU Commission’s growing Youth 4 Peace Africa network. The network of young peacebuilders has been built up over the past four years and includes youth already active in their communities. They should be given a chance to be part of this new venture. The first African Youth Ambassadors for Peace cohort finished their terms in February, and their skills should also be used.

Third, the AU must urge African states to increase youth participation in conflict prevention. This will enable WiseYouth to grow deep roots across the continent and capitalise on the vast potential of young people.

Last, WiseYouth has timing on its side. Young people are increasingly playing a role in the AU system, with a Youth Envoy and a string of ambassadorial positions rotationally filled with youth leaders.

Rather than being seen as another ceremonial initiative, a well-planned campaign is needed to show countries the value of WiseYouth for Africa’s stability. Although the impact of conflict remains devastating, excluding the youth worsens the consequences of crises.

Muneinazvo Kujeke, Research Officer, Training for Peace, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

This article is published as part of the Training for Peace Program (TfP), funded by the government of Norway.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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