African Union CIEFFA and ImpactHER announce #AfricaEducatesHer online training programme
The African Union International Center for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (African Union CIEFFA), in partnership with ImpactHER, has announced the public phase of its 2026 Online Capacity Building Training programme under the theme “#AfricaEducatesHer – Digital Skills for All: Bridging the Gender Gap in STEAM, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship.”
The online initiative is designed to equip women and men across all 55 African Union Member States and the African Diaspora with essential skills in gender-responsive education, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), digital literacy, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
The programme will begin in August 2026 and aims to address persistent challenges affecting young Africans, particularly the limited access of women and girls to digital opportunities, financial knowledge and entrepreneurial resources.
Training programme focuses on inclusive skills development
The African Union CIEFFA and ImpactHER are collaborating to expand access to skills development opportunities through gender-responsive education and digital empowerment.
The training will focus on building participants’ capacity in key areas including:
- Gender equality in and through education to promote inclusive learning environments.
- Digital skills development to improve technology access and participation.
- STEAM education to encourage greater involvement in science and innovation fields.
- Financial literacy to strengthen personal and business financial management.
- Entrepreneurship skills to support innovation, business creation and economic empowerment.
Organisers stated that the programme is intended to support both women and men who are committed to advancing education equality and creating sustainable opportunities across Africa.
African Union CIEFFA and ImpactHER partnership
The African Union CIEFFA is a specialised institution of the African Union operating under the African Union Commission’s Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI). The organisation works to promote advocacy, policy development and action towards achieving gender equality in education across Africa.
ImpactHER is an award-winning non-profit organisation focused on empowering African female entrepreneurs by addressing the gender gap in business financing and helping women entrepreneurs unlock their economic potential.
Through their partnership, both organisations aim to strengthen access to knowledge, networks and opportunities for African youth and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Thousands of participants have already benefited
The #AfricaEducatesHer training initiative has previously certified 12,546 young people across 55 African countries and 34 non-African countries, demonstrating its growing impact in expanding skills development opportunities globally.
The 2026 edition will continue this effort by providing participants with access to professional learning, certification opportunities and networks connected to African education and entrepreneurship development.
Benefits for successful applicants
Selected participants will gain access to several opportunities, including:
- Training in gender equality, digital skills, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
- Certificates for Digital Skills, Entrepreneurial Skills and Financial Literacy programmes.
- Membership opportunities within the African Union CIEFFA and ImpactHER networks.
- Increased opportunities to be considered for fully funded in-person activities organised by African Union CIEFFA.
- Access to additional fully funded online training programmes supported by ImpactHER.
Participants must attend at least 80% of each training programme to qualify for certification.
Eligibility requirements for applicants
The online capacity building programme is open to African women and men who meet the following criteria:
- Must be an African citizen living on the continent or anywhere in the world.
- Must demonstrate motivation to learn digital skills, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
- Must show leadership potential, aspirations and commitment to promoting girls’ and women’s education.
- Must have access to a reliable internet connection and a digital device such as a laptop, computer, smartphone or tablet.
- Must understand at least one of the programme languages: English, French or Portuguese.
Application deadline and programme schedule
Interested applicants must submit their applications before the deadline of 31 July 2026.
Selected participants will be organised into batches, with each training batch running for approximately one month starting from 31 August 2026.
The application form will be available in English, French and Portuguese to ensure wider accessibility among participants from across Africa and the Diaspora.
Contact information
Applicants seeking additional information or clarification can contact the organisers through:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
The African Union CIEFFA and ImpactHER encourage eligible applicants interested in education equality, digital transformation and entrepreneurship development to apply for the 2026 #AfricaEducatesHer Online Capacity Building Training.
