Women at the heart of digital skills growth in Sierra Leone
The Citizen Training program was carried out in Sierra Leone under the ITU/BDT Digital Transformation Centers (DTC) Initiative, as part of the project “Boosting Digital Skills through Digital Transformation Centers.” With our support, the initiative created opportunities 700 citizens, out of which 329 were women, to build practical digital skills and confidence through training delivered across several communities and learning labs.
A key strength of the program was its focus on inclusive digital transformation at grassroots level, with a massive response by women attending this learning experience. By combining our Introduction to Computer Basics (ICB) course, HP LIFE, and Cisco Networking Academy content, the training gave participants a solid foundation in computer basics, entrepreneurship, communication, digital business, and emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, data science, and cybersecurity.
Our role was especially important in helping women and other learners take their first step into digital literacy. Through the ICB course, participants built essential skills that supported further learning on the HP LIFE and Cisco platforms. This created a pathway from basic computer knowledge to more advanced digital competencies that can be applied in daily life, work, and community development.
Carried out in nine labs, the program also helped strengthen local capacity. Participants showed strong participation from underserved communities and meaningful progress toward more balanced access to digital education. Just as importantly, many trainees gained the confidence to share their learning with others, opening the door to wider community impact.
Overall, the initiative demonstrates how the DTC model can support sustainable and inclusive digital empowerment, especially for women. By bringing quality training closer to communities and linking global learning platforms to local needs, the project is helping citizens become more prepared for the digital economy and more able to contribute to social and economic development in Sierra Leone.