• Djibouti launches École 42 digital training network with international partnership
• Program offers peer-learning, no degrees, focusing on practical tech skills
• Initiative targets skills gap, aims to boost youth employment and workforce readiness

Djibouti has launched the École 42 project, an international digital training network, as part of its broader digital transformation strategy. The partnership was signed between Djibouti Code and the Association 42, according to the local media outlet La Nation.

The initiative aims to accelerate the development of local talent capable of meeting growing market demand.

École 42 requires no academic qualifications for admission and is based on a peer-learning model centred on hands-on projects, with no traditional lectures. Students develop skills in programming, software development, cybersecurity and big data in a fully immersive, 24/7 environment.

By adopting a flexible, practice-oriented approach, the government aims to quickly build a job-ready workforce aligned with the needs of businesses and national technology projects. Beyond training, the initiative also seeks to improve employment prospects for young people in a country facing significant challenges in labour market access.

The project comes amid a broader digital skills gap that continues to constrain the development of the digital economy across Africa. In May 2024, the World Bank published the “Djibouti Digital Economy Diagnostic,” a report that has since helped shape several government policy decisions.

Adoni Conrad Quenum