• Djibouti launches $8M “E-SKILLS” project to train 3,000 by 2029
  
• Campus 42, Digital Houses, and sector digitization form project pillars
  
• Initiative supports Vision 2035 to build inclusive digital economy
  

Djibouti’s government launched the “E-SKILLS” project on Monday, an initiative aimed at developing the digital abilities of at least 3,000 youths and women by 2029.

The US$8 million program is financed by the European Union under the EU Alliance Horn of Africa initiative, according to the Djibouti News Agency (ADI).

The ADI said the project has three main components. The first is the creation of Campus 42 Djibouti, the first school of the international 42 network in East Africa, which uses project-based learning and is open with no degree requirements. The second is the rollout of Digital Houses in interior regions to provide training, digital services and entrepreneurial support. The third aims to improve economic competitiveness by helping the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce (CCD) and the Resource and Skills Center (CRC) digitize professional activities, particularly in the port and logistics sector.

Minister Mariam Hamadou Ali, cited by ADI, said the initiative reflects the vision of “a digital, inclusive and sovereign Djibouti, where every young person, every woman and every entrepreneur can seize the opportunities created by digital technology.”

The project aligns with “Vision Djibouti 2035,” the “Smart Nation” roadmap, and the “National Development Plan 2025-2030,” which aim to make the country a regional hub for digital skills. The government wants to build a strong and inclusive digital economy by 2035 by leveraging innovative technologies.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) says digital skills are essential to digital transformation and a key driver of national digitization strategies. The organisation, citing the International Labour Organization (ILO), estimates that 90% of jobs worldwide will require some level of digital skills by 2030. By the same deadline, the World Bank estimates that 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require these skills.

Djiboutian authorities did not specify the training curriculum. The ITU notes, however, that beyond basic digital literacy, today’s economies require advanced skills in areas such as data analysis, programming, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity.

Isaac K. Kassouwi