Worldwide — A coalition of technology firms, universities and development agencies on Monday launched “Code for All”, a programme aiming to train ten million new software developers by 2030 — the largest digital-skills effort ever attempted across multiple continents.
Unveiled at simultaneous launch events in Nairobi, Jakarta and São Paulo, the initiative will fund skills centres in 60 countries, with curricula spanning web development, data analysis, cybersecurity and freelancing. Every cohort ends with a working portfolio and an active freelance profile, and top graduates receive toolkits — laptops and software licences — to begin independent work.
“This is not training for training’s sake. Every cohort ends with a portfolio, not just a certificate.”— A programme director, at the Nairobi launch
At least forty per cent of seats are reserved for women, with transport stipends offered where commuting remains the primary barrier. A network of freelancing incubators, run in partnership with local technology firms, will mentor final-project teams and interview top graduates for internships.
The programme targets a familiar gap: the global freelance workforce has grown sharply over the past five years, but opportunity remains concentrated in a handful of major cities, leaving young people across Africa, South Asia and Latin America largely disconnected from the global digital economy despite improving connectivity.
Analysts greeted the announcement with cautious optimism, noting that similar schemes have struggled with placement rates after training ends. “The design is right — stipends, portfolios, industry partners,” one education-policy researcher said. “The test will be what happens in month thirteen, when the excitement ends and the graduates have to find clients.”
Enrolment opens on 10 October through regional centres and the programme’s portal, with the first cohorts beginning in November.
