Airtel DRC has joined the Democratic Republic of Congo’s National Digital Training Program, a large-scale initiative that equips 250,000 citizens with essential digital skills. The government launched the program in September alongside U.S. tech firms Cisco and Cybastion to prepare young Congolese for the fast-changing demands of a technology-driven economy.
Airtel’s Strategic Support
On Saturday, October 11, Airtel announced its involvement, giving the program a major boost in reach and effectiveness. The telecom operator will deliver free internet connectivity to all participants, ensuring smooth access to learning materials and virtual modules. Airtel also plans to build a dedicated training facility for instructors and offer internships, jobs, and startup support to top-performing trainees.
Building Practical Digital Competence
The curriculum focuses on high-demand fields like cybersecurity, data science, software development, operating systems, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. These areas form the backbone of today’s global economy, where digital literacy opens doors to opportunity. The World Bank estimates that by 2030, over 230 million jobs will require digital proficiency a challenge this program tackles head-on.
Access to affordable data remains a major hurdle in the DRC. The GSMA reports that mobile internet costs consume 9.09% of the country’s gross national income per capita far above the ITU’s 2% affordability benchmark. Nearly 70% of Congolese citizens still lack internet access. Airtel’s offer of free connectivity could remove one of the biggest barriers to digital inclusion expanding access to learning and innovation nationwide.
Changing Traditional Sectors
Digital literacy promises growth beyond the tech world. Agriculture, which employs over half of the Congolese workforce, stands to benefit from digitization. GSMA research predicts that digital agriculture could generate 1.7 million jobs by 2029. Industry and services could add another 300,000 and 500,000 jobs respectively, thanks to digital transformation.
Young people aged 15–29 make up more than half of the working-age population. Yet youth unemployment remains higher than the national average, showing a disconnect between potential and opportunity. To keep pace with economic needs, the DRC must create nearly 10 million new jobs by 2030 and triple that number by 2050. One of the few scalable paths to meet this demand lies in the digital economy and Airtel’s partnership with the National Digital Training Program could offer more than corporate goodwill for Congo’s resilience and inclusive growth.
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