Professional training centres on digital skills focusing in the fields of technology and industry, including for women
Business Model Description
Build and operate training centres and provide professional trainings in digital skills specialized in the field of technology and industry, including for company employees, under a PPP model or with specific governmental support.
Expected Impact
Digital training in the fields of technology and industry will enhance the workforce's competences, the companies' added value while decreasing unemployment.
How is this information gathered?
Investment opportunities with potential to contribute to sustainable development are based on country-level SDG Investor Maps.
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Country & Regions
- Congo (Republic of): Brazzaville
- Congo (Republic of): Pointe Noire/Kouilou
- Congo (Republic of): South Zone
- Congo (Republic of): Centre Zone
- Congo (Republic of): North Zone
Sector Classification
Technology and Communications
Development need
Despite growing internet usage, with an increase of 2.4% in early 2025 compared to 2024, 61.6% of the population remained offline and the internet penetration rate was of 38.4%. The current quality and accessibility of technology and communication infrastructure is hindering national competitivity and economic diversification (1, 2, 3).
Policy priority
The NDP(2022-2026) emphasises on the digital economy as a driver of growth. The upcoming Digital Strategy 2030 expands on Congo Digital 2025, aims at transforming the Republic of Congo into a cyber reference for Central Africa by targeting digital innovation, including e-government and e-business, capacity building and increased access to digital services (3, 4, 7).
Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
In the Republic of Congo, the digital gap between men and women is high, with an 80% gender gap in mobile internet access in 2023, especially in rural areas, due to a higher rate of digital illiteracy among women. Women represent less than 30% of employees in the sector (5, 9).
Investment opportunities introduction
The NDP (2022-2026) will allocate 4.03% of the total public investments planned for the digital infrastructure development. In 2023, the interconnection with Central African Republic was inaugurated and a second submarine fibre-optic cable was purchased to improve the speed and stability and become operational in 2025 (3, 6, 10).
Key bottlenecks introduction
Key challenges are a lack of regulation for cybersecurity, including for digital transactions and personal data protection, as well as the absence of a dedicated national regulator. Additionally there is a low national electrification rate (51.3% in 2023, with vast rural-urban disparities), limiting population access to digital services (3, 4, 8).
Technology
Development need
The internet usage increased of 2.4% in early 2025 compared to 2024, but 61.6% of the population remained offline and the internet penetration rate was of 38.4%. Enhancing the quality and accessibility of the infrastructure is key for economic diversification and competitivity, as well as bridging gaps in digital skills, particularly for industrial SMEs (1, 2, 3, 28).
Policy priority
The NDP (2022-2026) emphasises on the digital economy as a driver of growth. The upcoming Digital Strategy 2030 expands on Congo Digital 2025, aims at transforming the Republic of Congo into a cyber reference for Central Africa by targeting digital innovation, including e-government and e-business, capacity building and increased access to digital services (3, 4, 7).
Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
In the Republic of Congo, the digital gap between men and women is high, with an 80% gender gap in mobile internet access in 2023, especially in rural areas, due to a higher rate of digital illiteracy among women. Women represent less than 30% of employees in the sector (5, 9).
Investment opportunities introduction
The NDP (2022-2026) will allocate 4.03% of the total public investments planned for the digital infrastructure development. In 2023, the interconnection with Central African Republic was inaugurated and a second submarine fibre-optic cable was purchased to improve the speed and stability and become operational in 2025 (3, 6, 10).
Key bottlenecks introduction
Key challenges are a lack of regulation for cybersecurity, including for digital transactions and personal data protection, as well as the absence of a dedicated national regulator. Additionally there is a low national electrification rate (51.3% in 2023, with vast rural-urban disparities), limiting population access to digital services (3, 4, 8).
Software and IT Services
Pipeline Opportunity
Professional training centres on digital skills focusing in the fields of technology and industry, including for women
Build and operate training centres and provide professional trainings in digital skills specialized in the field of technology and industry, including for company employees, under a PPP model or with specific governmental support.
Business Case
Market Size and Environment
< 5%
As of 2021, there were 18 operational public and private training providers with an increase from 4 in 2013, with 600 qualified trainees up from 200 (14).
In the Republic of Congo the non-oil sectors including services and education grew by 3.5% annually between 2022-2026 (15).
A survey conducted by the World Bank showed that only 30% of the employees of participant firms had advanced or specialized digital skills (2).
Indicative Return
15% - 20%
Based on the Gabon's Skills Development and Employability 2023 project extension, financed by the World Bank through a sovereign loan, the Economic IRR of building specialized training centres is around 16.7%, demonstrating the viability of private investment under a PPP model (16, 17).
Investment Timeframe
Long Term (10+ years)
Based on Gabon's Skills Development and Employability project initial agreement with the World Bank, the loan maturity was 20 years, with a 5 years grace period (18).
Ticket Size
> USD 10 million
Market Risks & Scale Obstacles
Capital - CapEx Intensive
Capital - Requires Subsidy
Business - Supply Chain Constraints
Impact Case
Sustainable Development Need
The current workforce digital skills are not matching those sought by employers and companies. A 2020 survey showed that 51.5% of firms part of the study identified the lack of competencies as a barrier to value creation. The percentage is higher than in neighbouring countries (2, 22).
In the Republic of Congo, there are not enough specialized degree programs in technology or ICT in the higher public education. Additionally, only short term trainings are offered by the private sector (2).
Gender & Marginalisation
In the Republic of Congo, girls' and women's participation in STEM is likely still around the 2017 figure of 20.8%. Domestic duties often hinder their digital learning. In Central Africa, women are 25% less likely than men to gain basic STEM skills (2, 22, 24).
Digital skills are particularly lacking in SMEs, limiting their growth potential (23).
The lack of digital competences is affecting young people particularly, limiting their transition towards the labour market (22).
Expected Development Outcome
Greater private sector involvement in digital skills training, specifically data management, cloud computing and emerging technologies, would contribute to bridge the skill gap between supply and demand (2).
Increased training in the digital field specifically for the industry would enable more digital entrepreneurship and promote increased added value at the national level (4, 25).
Gender & Marginalisation
Provided that programmes specifically target women, digital trainings will enable women to better participate to the digital economy, thus supporting their economic empowerment (27).
By contributing to youth skills development, digital training in the fields of technology and industry will contribute to their employment and better remuneration (3, 22).
Increased technology-related and digital skills among their employees will support the economic growth of SMEs through gains in competitivity, enhanced decision-making and increased resilience (26, 25).
Primary SDGs addressed
8.2.1 Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person
8.5.2 Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
8.6.1 Proportion of youth (aged 15–24 years) not in education, employment or training
Real GDP per capita grew 2.6% in 2024, marking first increase since 2016 (28).
Youth unemployment reached 40.41% in 2023, with women 31.6% and overall unemployment 19.9% (29).
22.5% in 2017 (31).
By 2030, increase by 7% the GDP per inhabitants compared to the 2015 levels of 3.11% (31).
To reach 6.5% in 2026 (3).
13% by 2030 (31).
9.b.1 Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added
4.4.1 Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill
18.4% for women and 31.4% for men in 2015 (31).
36.8% of women and 62.8% of men by 2030 (31).
Secondary SDGs addressed
Directly impacted stakeholders
People
Gender inequality and/or marginalization
Corporates
Public sector
Indirectly impacted stakeholders
Planet
Corporates
Public sector
Outcome Risks
If trainings are not tailored to companies' needs, there is a risk that they do not benefit from their employees or potential future employees skills acquired, reinforcing the skills mismatch.
Gender inequality and/or marginalization risk: If no targeted programmes are implemented, youth and women might not benefit from increased digital and industrial training options.
Impact Risks
If the price of the training is prohibitive for the companies, a stakeholder participation risk can occur.
Impact Classification
What
Improved employees skillset contributing to increased value creation and better salaries.
Who
Employees, owners of companies and SMEs, women, youth and people working in the field of technology and the industry.
Risk
Risks linked to the matching of the training and the companies needs, as well as to the price of the training can arise.
Contribution
Contribute to achieving a decrease in unemployment to reach the Government's target of 6.5% in 2026 (3).
How Much
The World Bank-financed PDCE project in Gabon benefited 8,462 youth, among which 47% were women with the construction of new centres (17).
Impact Thesis
Digital training in the fields of technology and industry will enhance the workforce's competences, the companies' added value while decreasing unemployment.
Enabling Environment
Policy Environment
NDP (2022-2026): highlights the need to increase the learning and training in the digital field, including the development of curriculum, the intensification of the initial education and trainings (3).
Congo Digital 2025: emphasizes on the need to develop digital competences, notably through the reinforcement of competences within companies (4).
National Industrialization Strategy: flags the need to reinforce human capital via more and adapted training, including professional training. It also highlights the need to adopt technologies and to train people to use these technologies (25).
Financial Environment
Financial incentives: The National Employability and Training Support Fund (FONEA) supports financially the training of people seeking employment and the creation of professional training centres, including through the financing of the professional development of the centres' trainers (32).
Fiscal incentives: Educational services including vocational training are VAT-exempt. Companies making investments of social and cultural character (including training infrastructure) may benefit from special fiscal reductions defined by ministerial decree (34).
Regulatory Environment
Decree n°520 of March 1, 2022 setting the conditions for approval of private professional training centres and institutions: establishes the obligation to hold an accreditation in order for a private actor to create a centre or institution, and lists the documents needed to receive one (30).
Marketplace Participants
Private Sector
C-Tech, Alpha-Omega, IPL, La Congolaise de Formation, Vision Metrik.
Government
Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education, National Employability and Training Support Fund (FONEA),
Multilaterals
World Bank, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), African Development Bank.
Non-Profit
Yékolab, Start Lab, Kosala, PUITS (Programme universitaire d’innovation en technologies et services), Congo France Numérique, PRATIC, PUITS/Osiane, CNEUF, BantuHub.
Public-Private Partnership
The Grande Ecole numerique du Congo, established in 2016 in Brazzaville under a PPP, provides short term and qualifying trainings programs focusing on the digital professions (13).
Target Locations
Congo (Republic of): Brazzaville
Congo (Republic of): Pointe Noire/Kouilou
Congo (Republic of): South Zone
Congo (Republic of): Centre Zone
Congo (Republic of): North Zone
References
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- (2) World Bank Group. 2023. Republic of Congo - Country Economic Memorandum : Road to Prosperity - Building Foundations for Economic Diversification : Full Report. https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099194003082313541/p177056082c4ca01c08bdf0912daa5d3470.
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