The Online Capacity Building Training (OCBT) is a fully-funded virtual programme run by the African Union International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (AU CIEFFA) together with ImpactHER. Now in its 4th edition, the 2026 cohort runs under the theme “#AfricaEducatesHer — Digital Skills for All: Bridging the Gender Gap in STEAM, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship.” It equips young Africans — women and men, entrepreneurs, educators, and aspiring business leaders — with practical skills to take part in the digital economy. Everything is delivered online, so participants can join from across the continent and the diaspora.
Benefits & funding
- Fully sponsored: high-quality virtual training at no cost to participants.
- One-month intensive curriculum across three components: digital literacy (2 weeks), entrepreneurship (1 week), and financial literacy (1 week), alongside gender equality in education.
- A separate certificate is issued for each subject area completed with at least 80% of the course — up to three certificates.
- Training is offered in English, French, or Portuguese.
Eligibility
- Hold African citizenship — from any of the 55 African Union Member States — while residing on the continent or anywhere in the world.
- Open to women and men; no age limit is stated.
- Motivation to build skills in digital technology, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership, and commitment to promoting girls’ and women’s education.
- Proficiency in one of the training languages (English, French, or Portuguese).
- A reliable internet connection and a device.
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
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Eligible nationalities
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cameroon · Cabo Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo
+ 43 more
DR Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · Western Sahara · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Prepare basic details showing your citizenship, language, and motivation to learn.
- 2Complete the official multilingual Google Form application (English, French, or Portuguese), also reachable by scanning the QR code on the campaign materials.
- 3Submit before the deadline; selected applicants are placed into monthly cohorts for the training that begins 31 August 2026.
Program timeline
Applications open for the 4th edition.
9 July 2026
Application deadline.
31 July 2026
Training begins (cohorts organised by month).
31 August 2026