Supporting Youth Digital Upskilling for Economic Inclusion and Advancement
The global workforce is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by rapid technological advancements and shifting economic demands. As the nature of work evolves, digital skills are becoming increasingly essential across all sectors. However, in many economies, traditional learning curricula leave out the most in-demand skills and organizational learning and development resources are inequitably distributed. Youth, women, and others from marginalized communities are particularly at risk due to existing critical skills gaps and lack of access to online learning opportunities that foster self-skilling. In response, IREX conducted a literature review and youth-led research which informed the development of the Digital-ESE curriculum.
The Digital-ESE curriculum is designed to equip youth to become “power learners” in digital upskilling and to maintain a confident and secure digital presence, while doing so. Through character-based scenarios, instructional content, and interactive activities, youth learn to:
- identify opportunities to improve digital skills
- cultivate effective learning environments
- evaluate their learning progress
- navigate online spaces safely and responsibly
- engage in a digital learning community
- parlay digital skill-building efforts to professional growth
Throughout the modules, participants follow the journey of Wanjiku, a fictitious character whose stories are inspired by the lived experiences of the 44 Kenyan youth interviewed.
IREX created a custom generative AI tool to create the Wanjiku persona and produce stories that drew from the authentic circumstances and challenges to learning online that the interviewees described.
Pilot & Case Study
In June 2024, IREX partnered with SOW-Kenya, a local youth-led organization to pilot the Digital-ESE curriculum in Nairobi, Kenya with 14 women aged 18-35. The Digital-ESE Pilot Profile details this implementation experience, including participant feedback and impact related to their workforce journeys.
What’s new?
The Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC), in partnership with IREX's SAFE program, is advancing the professional development of journalists through the CALI Digital-ESE curriculum. The curriculum equips journalists with essential skills to combat misinformation, enhance fact-checking, and navigate digital challenges—particularly critical as Tanzania approaches its elections. The CALI team has tailored the curriculum to ensure its cultural relevance, making it even more impactful for participants and developed a specialized MEL plan to track the curricular outcomes.
For any questions or to request MEL surveys or technical assistance in customizing the Digital-ESE curriculum for your program, please contact a member of our team.
©2024. This resource is openly licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. This means you are welcome to use and adapt this guide for non-commercial purposes and that you will give appropriate credit and indicate if you make changes.
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