• New partnership launched at MWC Kigali: Airtel Africa Foundation, ITU, RISA, and Cisco joined forces to boost digital skills in Rwanda.

• Airtel Rwanda will provide free routers, Wi-Fi, and data to Digital Transformation Centres in underserved areas.

• The initiative builds on ITU’s success in Ghana and complements Airtel’s 'Tech For Her' program in other African countries.

Airtel Africa Foundation has teamed up with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to promote digital skills training across Rwanda. Announced at MWC Kigali held from October 21-23, the partnership tackles one of Africa's biggest development challenges: the widening gap between digital access and digital skills.

Through Airtel Rwanda, the Foundation will supply free routers, Wi-Fi, and data packages to Digital Transformation Centres (DTCs), helping underserved communities access online learning and digital training. The partnership includes Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) and Cisco Networking Academy.

"Today's partnership between the Airtel Africa Foundation, ITU, Rwanda Information Society Authority and Cisco Networking Academy marks a major move forward in bridging the digital divide and empowering Rwandan youth with digital skills," said Sujay Chakrabarti, Airtel Rwanda Managing Director. "This collaboration demonstrates what happens when government, private sector, and international organizations work together to empower communities."

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs 2025 Report predicts that 59 out of 100 workers worldwide will require training by 2030, with two-fifths of current skills expected to change or become outdated between 2025 and 2030.

Africa faces a notable digital skills gap, with low technology adoption among companies limiting productivity and hindering job creation, especially in fields requiring higher-level skills. By 2030, 70% of digital skills demand is expected to be for basic skills, yet an OECD survey across 15 African countries shows only 9% of youth currently have these essential skills. Closing this gap is vital for Africa to remain competitive in the global digital economy.

ITU's DTC Initiative has transformed the lives of over 22,000 people (68% women) through digital skills training in Ghana alone, promoting social and economic development in underserved areas. The DTC network includes 14 Digital Transformation Centres across four regions, with eight located in Africa, providing a scalable model for digital skills development.

Airtel Africa Foundation is expanding its digital skills efforts across the continent. In August 2025, it launched the 'Tech For Her' program, focusing on young women in Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya with specialized training in Linux Administration, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics. Together, these initiatives offer a comprehensive approach to closing Africa's digital skills gap. The Rwanda project exemplifies how multi-stakeholder partnerships can speed up digital progress. By combining ITU's training content, Airtel's infrastructure, RISA's policy support, and Cisco's technical programs, the partnership creates a robust ecosystem for developing skills.

Hikmatu Bilali