Smart Africa champions local capacity building at global cyber conference

Smart Africa made significant contributions at the Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B) in Geneva, stressing the critical need for skills development in Africa's digital transformation. Thelma Quaye, Director of Digital Infrastructure, Skills and Empowerment, represented the organization during a panel discussion focused on preventing technology divides through capacity building. 

During the session "Building capacities to avert new technology divides," Ms. Quaye highlighted Smart Africa's flagship initiative, the Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA). The program provides targeted training for policymakers, regulators, and technology leaders across the continent, ensuring Africa's digital growth remains inclusive and sustainable. 

She also participated in discussions about public-private partnerships in cybersecurity talent development, stressing the importance of clear roles and measurable outcomes. She cited Smart Africa's Cybersecurity Innovation Centre in Côte d'Ivoire as a successful model where training programs directly connect to employment opportunities. 

"The real measure of success in capacity building isn't just training delivery, but how effectively it translates into workforce participation," she told conference attendees. Her interventions reinforced Smart Africa's commitment to developing practical, locally-relevant solutions that address Africa's specific cybersecurity challenges while creating meaningful career pathways for African youth. 

The GC3B conference brought together global experts to strengthen worldwide cyber resilience through collaborative capacity development.

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye