Are you ready to harness the power of technology for peace and prosperity?

The Tech4Peace Initiative is back—bigger and bolder! This transformative programme equips young people across West and Central Africa with cutting-edge cybersecurity skills, boosting their employability and helping them build a future in tech, not war.

Following a successful pilot in 2023, where 22 trailblazing youth were trained and many now lead digital projects or have secured employment, the Give1Project, Concordia University, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are now recruiting 500 passionate young people to join the 2025 Regional Cybersecurity Training Programme.

This second cohort is made possible with support from the Open Society Foundations.

Format

The training will be delivered in a cohort format, combining virtual theoretical sessions with in-person practical sessions (where applicable). To ensure inclusive access, community structures in rural and underserved areas will be equipped to allow young people to access computers and the internet, enabling their full participation in virtual training and coaching sessions.

Beyond cybersecurity, the programme also targets young people in conflict-affected settings, aiming to enhance their overall tech-savviness and increase their chances of securing employment, providing meaningful alternatives to being recruited by armed groups.

Additionally, youth from each participating country will be selected and trained as future trainers to become Tech4 Peace ambassadors, promoting peer-to-peer learning and supporting sustained capacity building within their communities.

Benefits

• Practical skills in cybersecurity and access to mentorship
• Exposure to industry experts and networking opportunities
• Certification upon successful completion
• Pathways to internships, employment, and entrepreneurship in the digital economy
• Opportunity to become a trainer and community ambassador
• Empowered youth will be supported to scale and share local tech-driven solutions that foster peace and resilience in their communities, helping to prevent the emergence of new drivers of conflict.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Be between 18 and 35 years old
• Be a national of one of the 24 countries in West and Central Africa^[1]
• Be currently enrolled in or have graduated from a university or technical institution
• Demonstrate interest and foundational knowledge in cybersecurity and the potential to grow professionally or as an entrepreneur in the field
• Be proficient in English or French
• Have a valid identification document or passport

Screening Process

First-Level Screening

Candidates who meet the minimum requirements of the programme will be shortlisted for the next phase. The scoring breakdown will be as follows:

• Motivation (Weight: 25%): Assess for genuine interest and enthusiasm.
• Skills (Weight: 35%): Focus on IT, programming, and cybersecurity knowledge.
• Experience (Weight: 15%): Any hands-on cybersecurity experience or relevant competitions.
• Education Level (Weight: 10%): Preference for candidates with technical education in IT.
• Extra-curricular (Weight: 15%): Bonus points for leadership and participation in events. 

Second-Level Screening: Technical Assessment 

Candidates who pass the first screening stage will undergo a deeper technical evaluation following a notification from the technical evaluation committee.

Third-Stage Screening: Interviews

Following the successful completion of the first and second stages, candidates with the highest scores will be invited for a round of interviews before being notified of the final selection.

To Apply

Visit: https://bit.ly/4iYuT43

Deadline: All applications must be submitted on or before 17 April 2025.

Please note: The training start date will be communicated directly to successful applicants.

About the Programme

The project will conduct online training modules to develop IT skills for the detection and prevention of cyber-attacks and online violence, as well as roll out an instant response to cyber-attacks. The online module will include a leadership development session for youth to further understand the challenges faced by their communities and become agents of transformation. Young men and women will be equipped to become ambassadors of peace using cyberspace as a safe platform to forge reconciliation, social cohesion, and promote local ownership of peace and development processes. By integrating digital tools with conflict transformation strategies and content production skills, this component will enable the youth to enhance community resilience, amplify underrepresented voices, and foster a culture of dialogue and collaboration. Expanding access to gig economy platforms, digital entrepreneurship, and secure financial services, the program aims to reduce vulnerabilities to exploitation and recruitment by armed groups, while fostering long-term economic resilience and stability.

Beyond security, this initiative will empower youth through technology, enhancing conflict transformation efforts while fostering long-term economic inclusion and innovation. Digital skills training will be integrated with financial education and entrepreneurship development, enabling young people, especially women, to leverage fintech solutions and establish new digital enterprises. Additionally, AI-driven data tools and digital financial solutions will be promoted to ensure the safe financial inclusion of young people and vulnerable groups, actively rebuilding their communities.

Outcomes 

1. Young men and women, including people from vulnerable groups, are empowered in digital skills for social cohesion and cyberspace security, and have acquired local ownership of peace processes in their communities.
2. Young men and women, including local leaders, are engaged and actively participate in collaboratively addressing tensions, sharing perspectives, and contributing to sustainable solutions in their communities.
3. Young men and women are economically empowered to build on the acquired cybersecurity and peacebuilding skills for social economic development and contribution to long-term peaceful and resilient communities. 

About the Give1Project

Give1Project engages young people as leaders in creating and building strong and healthy communities. Through initiatives in hunger relief, healthcare, civic engagement, housing, legal services, employment training and educational programmes, Give1Project empowers young women and men to lead change and elevate their social, economic, and political participation—locally and globally.

Learn more at www.give1project.net

About Concordia University

Concordia University sets itself apart as a next-generation university focused on reimagining the future of higher education. Concordia’s innovative approach to experiential learning and cross-functional research benefits its 50,000 students. Concordia is the top-ranked university in North America under 50, located in vibrant Montreal on the traditional lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation. It strives to be socially responsible and create a more equitable and sustainable world.

Learn more at www.concordia.ca

About the United Nations Development Programme

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

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

For more information, 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

[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.