This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
On December 19, 2019, Orange and GIZ announced a partnership aimed at enhancing the employability of young people in Africa and the Middle East.
Alioune Ndiaye, CEO of Orange Africa and the Middle East, and Kathinka Kurz, Head of The Development in Partnerships Program with the private sector at GIZ, signed the agreement.
The partnership aims to benefit 20,000 youths from 14 countries in both Africa and the Middle East, with a focus on developing new digital services.
Orange, a multi-service operator and leading partner in digital transformation, will support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.
GIZ, with its expertise in supporting social development for partner countries, will act as the implementation partner for the German Federal Ministry for Economics and Development (BMZ).
The partnership will help Orange and GIZ make digital opportunities accessible to everyone by improving digital skills among young people.
Together, Orange and GIZ have contributed €30 million to set up digital hubs in Africa and the Middle East, known as the Orange Digital Centres (ODC).
The ODCs will offer free training in digital technology, accelerate the creation of start-ups, and support project leaders.
The centres will be equipped with state-of-the-art digital equipment and will encourage young people to find employment.
Each country will have team representatives who will work with stakeholders and the entrepreneurial ecosystem to oversee the project's success.
The ODCs will also collaborate with regional universities to extend the skills sets to university students.
The program has already been launched in Tunisia and Senegal and is set to launch in 12 other countries, including Morocco, Jordan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mali, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Burkinafaso, Egypt, Guinea, and Liberia.
