The IAVE RRA SkillsBuild Academy — powered by IBM SkillsBuild and the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) in partnership with the African Union — is offering a fully paid digital skills scholarship open to young people across Africa, including Kenya. This IBM SkillsBuild Digital Skills Scholarship 2026 covers 12 high-demand courses including Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Entrepreneurship, all at zero cost and all culminating in internationally recognised IBM digital credentials. Apply now at bit.ly/44TW6jC.
About This Programme
Through a strategic collaboration with the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) and IBM SkillsBuild, the IAVE RRA SkillsBuild Academy delivers a structured and practical learning experience that goes beyond theoretical instruction. Participants acquire relevant digital competencies while developing essential workplace readiness skills critical for employability in today’s digital economy. Yasif
This programme is part of the Reskilling Revolution Africa (RRA) initiative — launched in collaboration with the African Union and powered by IBM SkillsBuild — anchored in the belief that skills are a powerful pathway to youth employability. The next phase of the RRA programme has expanded into Kenya alongside Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Iave
The programme provides structured and labour-market-relevant learning pathways via a digital platform that supports self-paced learning, tracks progress, and awards internationally recognised IBM SkillsBuild digital credentials. EnviroNews These credentials are verifiable, shareable on LinkedIn, and recognised by employers across Africa and internationally.
Courses Available — All Free, All IBM Certified
The IAVE RRA SkillsBuild Academy currently offers the following courses, each resulting in an IBM SkillsBuild digital certificate on completion:
- Entrepreneurship and Startups
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data Science and Management
- Cybersecurity
- Creative Thinking and Innovation
- Communication and Public Speaking
- Career Development and Employability
- Climate Change and Sustainability
- Project Planning and Management
- Digital and Social Media Marketing
- Financial Literacy and Management
- Leadership and Empowerment
You select the learning pathway that fits your career goals. All courses are delivered through IBM SkillsBuild’s online platform and can be completed at your own pace.
What You Get From This Programme
- Free IBM digital certificates — internationally recognised credentials you can add directly to your CV and LinkedIn profile
- Self-paced learning — complete courses on your schedule, from any device with internet access
- Practical, market-relevant skills — beyond certification, the academy focuses on real growth: learners build confidence, strengthen employability, and gain practical knowledge that can be applied to real-life opportunities and career advancement Nigeria Startup News
- Mentorship and facilitation support — credentials are complemented by facilitation, mentoring and localised learner support to maintain quality standards Nigeria Startup News
- Employability support — in addition to skills training, the programme implements a structured employability and alumni support framework including career guidance services such as CV development and interview preparation, partnerships with employment and job-placement organisations, and entrepreneurship training and mentorship for participants pursuing self-employment EnviroNews
Who Should Apply
The programme is open to young people who are unemployed, underemployed, students, graduates, or early-career professionals seeking to improve their skills and career prospects. Nigeria Startup News It is specifically designed to reach those who face financial barriers to quality digital training.
This opportunity is particularly relevant for:
- University and college students in Kenya looking to build tech and business skills alongside their degree
- Recent graduates entering a competitive job market
- Young professionals looking to upskill or pivot into digital, data, or sustainability roles
- Entrepreneurs building skills in digital marketing, financial literacy, and project management
- Anyone in Kenya who wants employer-recognised IBM credentials at zero cost
Programme Background and Track Record
The RRA pilot phase, launched in October 2024, set out to engage 30,000 young Africans across Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa. Nigeria alone exceeded its national target by enrolling 12,061 unique learners on the IBM SkillsBuild platform. Across the three pilot countries, learners collectively recorded almost 93,000 learning hours and earned close to 2,000 internationally recognised IBM SkillsBuild digital credentials. EnviroNews
Female participation exceeded expectations, contributing to an overall pilot outcome in which nearly 60 per cent of learners were women. Vanguard News The programme has now expanded into Kenya as a core implementation country for Phase 2.
About IBM SkillsBuild and IAVE
IBM SkillsBuild is IBM’s global free education platform offering over 1,000 courses designed to expand access to technology and professional skills for underserved communities and job seekers worldwide. The IBM SkillsBuild programme is a global skills development initiative aimed at expanding equitable access to digital, professional and sustainability-related skills for young people and underserved populations, with the goal of improving employability, job readiness and participation in the digital and green economies. Daily Trust
The International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) is a global network dedicated to creating a more just and sustainable world by enabling the leaders, organisations, and environments that empower volunteers. Through initiatives like RRA, IAVE seeks to enable individuals and communities through transformative service and learning. Iave In Africa, IAVE implements the RRA initiative in partnership with IBM and the African Union, coordinated at country level through national civil society and volunteer organisations — in Kenya’s case, through local implementing partners.
How to Apply
Step 1: Go to the application link: bit.ly/44TW6jC
Step 2: Complete the online application form with your personal and academic details
Step 3: Select your preferred course or learning pathway from the available options
Step 4: Submit your application and await onboarding confirmation
Step 5: Once enrolled, access the IBM SkillsBuild platform and begin learning at your own pace
For more information about the programme, visit www.yasif.org
Application Deadline
Apply as soon as possible — slots are limited and cohorts fill on a rolling weekly basis.
Requirements to Participate
- Must be a young person — student, graduate, unemployed, underemployed, or early-career professional
- A valid email address to create your IBM SkillsBuild platform account
- Internet access and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone
- No minimum academic qualification specified — the programme is designed to be accessible
