• The Congolese government has launched an online learning platform to teach IT and communication skills to young people, as the youth unemployment rate hovers around 42%.

• Developed by the African Centre for Research in Artificial Intelligence, the platform is expected to offer 3,000 courses in areas such as cybersecurity, AI, and technological innovation.

• The initiative aligns with Congo’s Vision Digital 2025 and follows partnerships with international actors including the UNDP, Microsoft, and France

The Congolese government has launched an online learning platform designed to train young people in information technology (IT) and communication skills. Developed by the African Centre for Research in Artificial Intelligence (Caria), the platform was presented to the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, Léon Juste Ibombo, on May 14.

"I am pleased with the platform that has been presented to me. However, we will continue to work with my colleague in charge of Scientific Research to also make his contributions before we schedule its official launch. In this phase, our ambition is to offer young people quality training that will make them top developers and/or business leaders," the minister stated.

The platform is expected to offer 3,000 online courses in fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and technological innovation. In a country where nearly half the population is under 18, and where the youth unemployment rate stands at about 42%, according to World Bank data, digital technology is seen as a key driver of transformation. The aim is to prepare the country’s youth for the 230 million jobs across sub-Saharan Africa that will require digital skills by 2030. The project seeks to improve youth employability in a context where demand for digital professions is rising.

In this regard, Congo has also initiated talks to join the Give1project initiative, which aims to train 25,000 young Africans in digital skills, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Microsoft, and France. The country has also formed a partnership with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, along with other international actors.

These efforts fall under the national strategy for digital transformation, Vision Congo Digital 2025, and the broader digital acceleration project funded by the World Bank for $100 million. Strengthening citizens’ digital capabilities is one of the core pillars of this strategy.

The platform remains in its pre-launch phase and must go through several stages before becoming fully operational. Its success will depend on reliable access, the quality of training provided, and the ability to link digital education to real opportunities—especially through international partnerships.