Vodacom And Microsoft Sign New Partnership

Tech giants Vodacom and Microsoft South Africa have partnered to launch the Mzansi Digital Learning Platform in a bid to combat South Africa’s staggering youth unemployment rate, which currently stands at 44 percent.

The free program offers comprehensive training courses to bridge the digital skills gap, equipping young people with in-demand skills for the modern job market and proficiency in key technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“We are extremely grateful to embark on this transformative partnership with our longstanding partner Microsoft South Africa. Collaborating with a like-minded brand who shares our values and ambition is a testament to our collective commitment to address unemployment and empower individuals through innovative digital training,” says Mathys Venter, Managing Executive for Prepaid and Loyalty at Vodacom South Africa.

“Affording youth with much-needed digital literacy is just one way we strive to fight the scourge of unemployment, one skill at a time. We believe that this partnership reinforces our purpose of creating an inclusive digital society, leaving no one behind,” adds Venter.

The initiative’s impact goes beyond merely offering free courses. The Mzansi Digital Learning platform, hosted on the new NXT LVL platform and integrated into Vodacom’s ConnectU—a zero-rated platform that gives customers access to content without mobile data charges—eliminates data charges for accessing educational content, ensuring affordability and removing barriers to participation.

The platform also focuses on important topics to help users understand the changing landscape of business in a digital world of generative AI, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity. Certification is provided upon completion of the course, and all programs on the platform have been designed to align with the most sought-after jobs in South Africa.

Asif Valley, National Technology Officer at Microsoft South Africa, said, “We are fully committed to supporting and enabling our youth as we collectively work towards closing the skills gap and empowering every person to achieve more in this era of digital transformation. It is increasingly about ensuring young people are equipped with the skills they need for the jobs that exist today and in the future.”

Microsoft South Africa works closely with its local partner Afrika Tikkun to deliver training, tools, and platforms to boost youth employability and entrepreneurship. The courses will appeal to youth and entrepreneurs who want to upskill and equip themselves with the skills essential for success in today’s digital market and an AI-driven world.

Onyi Nwaneri, Group CEO of Afrika Tikkun, says, “Afrika Tikkun’s vision is to help young people gain skills that will enable them access and sustain access into the digital economy. The partnership with Microsoft and Vodacom ensures that this access is affordable, meaningful, empowering, and sustainable. Young people are encouraged to embrace this opportunity and leverage it for their advancement. This is a milestone, and we are so grateful to be part of this pioneering initiative.”

The organization’s aim to reach 300,000 people with the Mzansi Digital Learning platform over the coming months. Created by the youth development training organization Afrika Tikkun, the digital skills training portal offers courses ranging from foundational skills for tech roles to business analyst and software developer, generative AI, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity.

“This is the first time we are working with Vodacom to bring an initiative of this scale to the local market and drive a common social goal. We know that when we empower people to harness digital technologies effectively, we help to create sustainable businesses,” says Valley.

Registration for the Mzansi Digital Learning platform is open to everyone, including both Vodacom customers and those with other mobile service providers. However, an internet connection-mobile data or Wi-Fi-is required to access the courses.