The Reskilling Revolution Africa (RRA) – SkillsBuild initiative, a collaboration between IAVE and IBM, is reshaping the future of youth employability in Africa through the power of volunteering and digital learning. RRA was endorsed by the African Union in 2023, and launched as a pilot in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa. The program has already reached tens of thousands of young people — igniting ambition, building market-relevant skills, and laying the groundwork for a future of inclusive economic opportunity.
At the core of this initiative is a simple belief: volunteering can open doors to meaningful careers. By getting involved in their communities, young people gain more than just a sense of purpose—they develop real-world experience, build valuable soft and digital skills, and grow their networks. It’s a pathway that turns service into opportunity and learning into leadership.
From urban hubs to rural communities, thousands of young people embraced the opportunity to learn, serve, and grow. Their enthusiastic participation is a testament to Africa’s untapped potential and their readiness to acquire future-ready skills.
The program welcomed a diverse group of over 30,000 learners, each embarking on a journey of skills-building. High course completion rates signal a strong commitment to personal and professional transformation.
Through IBM’s SkillBuild platform, learners earned globally recognized credentials that validate their achievements and enhance their job prospects. These digital badges are more than certificates—they’re gateways to careers.
Each participating country designed learning pathways tailored to its own economic landscape. Whether focusing on tech, entrepreneurship, or digital literacy, every course was curated to meet real, local demand—ensuring that participants gain skills that truly matter.
With dynamic digital storytelling and strategic outreach, our campaigns connected with youth where they are—online. The result? Widespread awareness, a growing digital community, and thousands of new learners joining the movement.
Collaboration with local NGOs, schools, and community leaders ensured cultural relevance, accessibility, and deep grassroots engagement. These partnerships remain critical to scaling our impact sustainably.
Serve Global Ethiopia
Yasif Nigeria
Lungelo Youth Development South Africa
Following the success of the pilot, RRA SkillsBuild is preparing for a broader Phase 2 rollout—expanding into new countries, diversifying course offerings, and deepening impact. With even stronger partnerships and lessons learned, this next phase will unlock greater opportunities for African youth to thrive as digital citizens, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.
