U.S. technology firm Cybastion is working with U.S. embassies and American Spaces across Africa to expand its Africa DigiEmpower digital skills programme. The initiative, administered by Cybastion’s nonprofit arm THEYA Foundation and delivered in partnership with Cisco Networking Academy, provides free accredited training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and related fields.
The programme began in Côte d’Ivoire, where it aims to reach 200,000 young people and women by 2030. It has since expanded, with training delivered online and in person across multiple cities. By the end of 2025 more than 10,000 participants had been reached in Côte d’Ivoire alone, including a three-month Learn-a-Thon that trained 1,824 people in AI, cybersecurity and networking. Further rollouts are under way or planned in Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso and other markets.
U.S. embassies support the effort by hosting tech camps and training sessions in American Spaces, which helps extend access beyond major cities. Local governments and agencies also participate in delivery and coordination. In Côte d’Ivoire the launch was publicly backed by the U.S. Ambassador; similar high-level engagement has accompanied expansions elsewhere.
Africa DigiEmpower sits alongside Cybastion’s commercial Digital Fast Track programme, which combines sovereign data centres, cybersecurity solutions and workforce development. The training component is designed to create a pipeline of local talent capable of deploying and maintaining digital infrastructure. Courses lead to Cisco-certified digital badges intended to improve employability in both public and private sectors.
Demand for digital skills remains high across the continent. The World Bank has estimated that Africa’s workforce will require hundreds of millions of digitally skilled workers in the coming years. Women and youth continue to be underrepresented in many tech roles, which the programme explicitly seeks to address.
The partnership model—U.S. technology companies, embassies, Cisco Networking Academy and African governments—reflects a practical approach to skills development that combines content, venues and local institutional support. Its longer-term impact will depend on completion rates, job placement outcomes and the ability to sustain training at scale beyond initial cohorts. For now, it represents one of the more structured U.S.–Africa collaborations focused on building digital human capital rather than infrastructure alone.
