With the opening of the 11th “Orange Digital Center” in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, Orange Group and the German Development Cooperation has created a digital ecosystem that is all about developing digital skills and new ideas
The inaugural ceremony was attended by the highest political and administrative authorities from Liberia, representatives of Germany in Liberia, members of the Orange Liberia board, and representatives of Orange Middle East and Africa.
The Orange Digital Center in Liberia has been operational since January 2022 and has already hosted several training sessions and digital events.
Orange Liberia, in partnership with some universities, will establish Orange Digital Center Clubs as well as extensions of the coding school in universities within Liberia. Thus, it will complement the education system by giving as many people as possible access to new technologies and supporting them in using them to their full extent.
The digital centre comprises four strategic programs of the Orange group, namely: a coding school, a solidarity FabLab – one of the Orange Foundation’s digital manufacturing workshops – and an Orange Fab start-up accelerator, supported by Orange Ventures Africa, the investment fund.
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All of the programs are provided free of charge and are open to everyone. They range from digital training for young people (90% of which are practical) guidance for project-bearers, start-up acceleration, and investment in these.
The Orange Digital Center in Liberia is the 11th after digital centres in Morocco, Madagascar, Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Egypt, and Jordan.
Working as a network, the Orange Digital Centres make it possible for people from different countries to share their experiences and knowledge. They also offer a simple and inclusive way to help young people get jobs, encourage innovative entrepreneurship, and promote the local digital ecosystem.
Orange and the German Development Cooperation are part of a development partnership in the develoPPP program, which is run by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The goal is to realise their shared vision of making it easier for young people to find jobs while supporting long-term growth and the country’s digital transformation. The program also improves gender equality and inclusion by making it easier for women and girls to get jobs in information and communication technology (ICT).
In line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this program uses digital technology to focus on the following sustainable development goals: (SDG 4) education, (SDG 5) gender equality, (SDG 8) decent work and economic growth, (SDG 9) industry, innovation, and infrastructure, (SDG 10) reduced inequalities, and (SDG 17) goal-oriented partnerships were all mentioned.
Orange Group 11th Digital Centre Inaugurates
Speaking at the recently-concluded inauguration ceremony, Brelotte Ba, Deputy CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, said:
I am very proud to inaugurate the 11th Orange Digital Center today in Liberia, which is part of a network of 32 Orange Digital Centres deployed not only in Africa and the Middle East but also in Europe. The objective is to democratise access to digital technology to young people—with or without qualifications—giving them access to the latest technological skills to strengthen their employability and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. ”
Amb. Dr Jakob Haselhuber, German Ambassador to Liberia, says:
“I am delighted that our cooperation with Orange contributes to realising the vision of a digital, innovative, and resilient future of Liberia and its people.” We aim to empower every person to take advantage of the opportunities of digitalisation and work hard to close the digital divide. Therefore, I am glad that our cooperation with Orange works. ”
Marius YAO, CEO of Orange Liberia, says: “Orange Liberia’s commitment to digital inclusion is a reality.”
“As a partner in digital transformation, we are a major player in the socio-economic milieu.’’
“With the Orange Digital Centers Club soon installed in universities in the regions, we will bring all the necessary skills to give as many people as possible access to new technologies and support in using them to their full extent.”
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About Orange Group
It supports the German government in international cooperation and sustainable education. It helps the German government in areas like international education and cooperation for sustainable development.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) created the develoPPP program to encourage private sector participation to the point where business opportunities and development policy initiatives overlap.