Fully Funded Cybersecurity Training for Youth in West and Central Africa – Apply Now!

The Give1Project, Concordia University, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are looking for 150 younger folks from throughout West and Central Africa to affix the second cohort of the Regional Cybersecurity Training programme.

The initiative, first launched in 2023 with a pilot group of twenty-two younger contributors—lots of whom at the moment are employed or main digital initiatives—is now increasing to coach 150 new cybersecurity lovers in 2025.

Format

The coaching will likely be delivered in a cohort format, combining digital theoretical periods with in-person sensible periods(the place relevant).

Structures in sure communities will likely be outfitted to permit younger folks from rural and underserved areas to entry computer systems and the web and absolutely take part in digital coaching and teaching periods.

Five youth may even be chosen as future trainers in every nation to assist peer-to-peer studying and capability constructing in their communities.

Benefits

• Practical abilities in cybersecurity and entry to mentorship
• Exposure to business specialists and networking alternatives
• Certification upon profitable completion
• Pathways to internships, employment, and entrepreneurship in the digital economic system
• Opportunity to grow to be a coach and neighborhood ambassador

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, candidates should:

• Be between 18 and 35 years outdated
• Be a nationwide of one of many 24 nations in West and Central Africa^[1]
• Be at present enrolled in or have graduated from a college or technical establishment
• Demonstrate curiosity and foundational information in cybersecurity and the potential to develop professionally or as an entrepreneur in the sphere
• Be proficient in English or French
• Have a sound identification doc or passport

Screening Process

First-Level Screening

Candidates who meet the minimal necessities of the programme will likely be shortlisted for the subsequent part. The scoring breakdown will likely be as follows:

• Motivation (Weight: 25%): Assess for real curiosity and enthusiasm.
• Skills (Weight: 35%): Focus on IT, programming, and cybersecurity information.
• Experience (Weight: 15%): Any hands-on cybersecurity expertise or related competitions.
• Education Level (Weight: 10%): Preference for candidates with technical training in IT.
• Extra-curricular (Weight: 15%): Bonus factors for management and participation in occasions.

Second-Level Screening: Technical Assessment 

Candidates who move the primary screening stage will endure a deeper technical analysis following a notification from the technical analysis committee.

Third-Stage Screening: Interviews

Following the profitable completion of the primary and second phases, candidates with the best scores will likely be invited for a spherical of interviews earlier than being notified of the ultimate choice.

To Apply

Visit: 

Deadline: All purposes should be submitted on or earlier than 17 April 2025.

Please observe: The coaching begin date will likely be communicated on to profitable candidates.

About the Programme

In right this moment’s digital age, investing in Africa’s youth by means of entry to trendy applied sciences is vital to accelerating inclusive and sustainable growth.

The “Enhancement of Modern Technologies to Accelerate Youth Entrepreneurship and Employability in West and Central Africa (WACA) Region” challenge, led by UNDP in partnership with Give1 Project and Concordia University, empowers younger folks with cutting-edge cybersecurity abilities to assist unlock employment alternatives and construct future-ready communities.

The programme seeks to:

• Equip youth with the talents and information to thrive in the worldwide cybersecurity business.
• Promote inclusive entry to digital abilities, particularly for these in distant areas, minority communities, and individuals with disabilities.
• Create a community of younger trainers who can proceed to coach and empower others throughout the area.

About the Give1Project

Give1Project engages younger folks as leaders in creating and constructing robust and wholesome communities. Through initiatives in starvation aid, healthcare, civic engagement, housing, authorized companies, employment coaching and instructional programmes, Give1Project empowers younger girls and males to guide change and elevate their social, financial, and political participation—regionally and globally.

Learn extra at www.give1project.net

About Concordia University

Concordia University units itself aside as a next-generation university centered on reimagining the way forward for increased training. Concordia’s modern strategy to experiential studying and cross-functional analysis advantages its 50,000 college students. Concordia is the top-ranked university in North America under 50, positioned in vibrant Montreal on the normal lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation. It strives to be socially accountable and create a extra equitable and sustainable world.

Learn extra at www.concordia.ca

About the United Nations Development Programme

UNDP is the main United Nations group preventing to finish the injustice of poverty, inequality, and local weather change. Working with our broad community of specialists and companions in 170 nations, we assist nations construct built-in, lasting options for folks and the planet.

Learn extra at www.undp.org/africa/waca

For extra data, please contact: 

• Nadine Rugwe, Governance and Peacebuilding Advisor, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa | nadine.rugwe@undp.org
• Christella Igiraneza, Youth Programme Specialist, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa | christella.igiraneza@undp.org

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[1] Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

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