Africa-Press – Angola. The acting coordinator of the United Nations system in Angola, Hege Wagan, acknowledged Monday in Luanda, the Angolan government’s efforts to promote digital literacy, given the gaps in skills acquisition.
Hege Wagan made the statement, while addressing a lecture on “Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”, promoted by United Nations agencies, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as part of the International Youth Day marked on August 12.
According to the official, Angola has developed several projects to increase digital literacy, including the pilot program for inclusion and development of future skills, launched in 2023, in a partnership between the Ministry of Economy and Planning, INAPEM, FAO and the UNDP.
These actions, she said, are complemented by projects focused on creating an inclusive start-up ecosystem.
“With INAPEM’s support, initiatives such as “Meet the Tôshikas” for young entrepreneurs from Angola, South Africa and Zambia, and the Timbuktoo Acceleration Program, have promoted integration with incubators, digital resources and investors,” Wagan said.
The UN official highlighted the existence of mobile applications, such as “Oi Kambas”, launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which has more than 6,000 users providing interactive information on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights/HIV; Relationships; Gender-Based Violence, among other vital issues.
Hege Wagan announced the forthcoming launch of the “Generation Unlimited” project, which aims to engage various ministerial departments and the UN to strengthen young people’s skills through various actions, including the promotion of digital inclusion and connectivity.
According to the UN official, currently around 16 percent of the world’s population is made up of young people aged between 15 and 24 with an expected seven percent increase by the deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Hege Wagan underscored that digital technologies and data are expected to contribute to at least 70 percent of the 169 SDG targets, having a profound impact on their economic, social and environmental dimensions.
The theme “Digital technologies and future generations”, considered one of the five pillars of the “Summit on the Future”, will be part of the debates at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 22 and 23 in New York.
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