Project
TECH SPARK Africa
What is TECH SPARK Africa?
TECH SPARK Africa seeks to empower African youth by equipping them with digital, technical, and professional skills through innovative simulation-based learning. The project strengthens the capacity of higher education institutions and fosters knowledge innovation to drive sustainable development.
“Inspire a generation of innovators with the technical, digital, and professional skills to drive Africa's transformation.”
Why does this project matter?
Africa has the world’s youngest population, with over 400 million youth aged 15–35. This presents a powerful opportunity to drive innovation and growth across the continent. By harnessing the power of technology in education—such as simulation-based learning—this project aims to equip young people with practical skills, creativity, and digital competencies.
TECH SPARK Africa empowers higher technical education institutions to embrace digital transformation, enhance teaching quality, and make learning more engaging. By improving access to modern educational tools and training, the project supports youth in shaping their futures and contributing meaningfully to their communities.
Project Overview
The TECH SPARK Africa project leverages digital technologies, particularly simulation learning platforms, to enhance youth skills and competency development in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at the tertiary level. Implemented from 2025 to 2027, the project covers Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063, the initiative serves to facilitate the digital transformation of higher education and foster innovation for sustainable development.
Expected outcomes
- Simulation learning resources integrated into curricula to support youth skills development in STEM subjects.
- Teacher digital competencies improved to effectively leverage simulation learning technologies for quality education and training.
- Institutional capacity strengthened for digital transformation in higher technical education for youth empowerment.
- Learning outcomes enhanced for learners in technical skills, digital competencies and professional attributes.
Participating countries
- Botswana
- Namibia
- Zimbabwe
Implementing partners
Higher Education Institutions:
- - Zimbabwe
- - Botswana
- - Namibia
Contact Us
For more information, please reach out to the Tech Spark Team at the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa: Techspark@unesco.org
You can also access and download our project brochure here:
