AU CIEFFA & ImpactHER Launch 4th Fully-Funded Online Capacity Building Training 2026 — Apply Before July 31

Good news for every African hustling to build a business, sharpen their digital skills, or grow as a leader — applications are open for the 2026 African Union CIEFFA Online Capacity Building Training (OCBT), and it's completely free.

What Is It All About?

This is a joint programme by the African Union International Centre for Girls' and Women's Education in Africa (AU CIEFFA) and ImpactHER, now in its 4th edition. It's a fully online, fully sponsored training designed to equip young Africans — women and men — with practical skills for today's digital economy.

The training focuses on four key areas:

-Digital Skills

-Entrepreneurship

-Financial Literacy

-Gender Equality in Education

This year's theme is "#AfricaEducatesHer – Digital Skills for All: Bridging the Gender Gap in STEAM, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship."

Participants get certificates for each course completed (Digital Skills, Entrepreneurial Skills, Financial Literacy) — as long as they attend at least 80% of the sessions per programme. Completing the training also boosts your chances of being invited to future fully funded in-person AU CIEFFA activities and other ImpactHER-sponsored opportunities.

Who Is It For?

Eligibility:

Open to all 55 African Union Member States — that's every country on the continent, plus members of the African Diaspora (you don't have to be resident in Africa)

-Open to both women and men

-Entrepreneurs, educators, aspiring business leaders, and emerging community leaders

-Must show genuine motivation to learn digital skills, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy

-Must have a reliable internet connection and a device (laptop, phone, or tablet)

-Should understand at least one of the training languages: English, French, or Portuguese

This is a great fit for anyone building or growing a business — think of the small business owners in our own community, from fashion to food to trading — who want real, practical, no-cost training with a certificate at the end.

Key Dates

Application Deadline

31 July 2026

Training Start Date

31 August 2026

Mode

100% Online — open to applicants across Africa and the diaspora

⚠️ The deadline is very close, so don't sit on this one.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online. Apply using the link below 👇🏼 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUwmECIA421Z-1Q8tS8cE6m-ZasSsUncmI4E1IMWCKIEdTNA/viewform

AU CIEFFA: cieffa.au.int

ImpactHER: www.impacther.org

Official press release: cieffa.au.int/en/news/press-releases/2026-07-09

If you run into any issues, note that AU-related programmes typically list a support email on their portal — check the application page directly for that contact.

Bottom line: if you're an African (anywhere in the world) who wants free, certificate-backed training in digital skills, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy — apply before 31 July 2026