Helping people to develop the skills they need for a changing world.

In 2021, Google partnered with the Government of Rwanda to accelerate the country’s digital transformation toward driving inclusive economic development by leveraging technology.
We have supported 15 startups through a fintech startup incubation program, supported 12,000+ Rwandan small businesses to come online, and digitised 8 Rwandan museums and cultural institutions to preserve and provide access to Rwanda's cultural heritage online.

During the 13th African Union Private Sector Forum in Lusaka, Zambia, Google and the African Union Commission signed a memorandum of understanding to confirm our commitment to accelerate digital transformation across the 55 member nations. The new partnership aims to accomplish two goals: first, to empower small and medium-sized enterprises, and second, to establish policies to promote business growth for private sector development in Africa.

The Nigeria National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) joined forces with Google on the Hustle Academy program in 2022. The free week-long boot camp aims to support small businesses across Nigeria to grow by increasing revenue, positioning for investment, and building a sustainable business for the future. The program equips participating small businesses with the skills and tools to develop their digital marketing strategies, create business growth plans, identify new markets, access funding opportunities, and ultimately successfully pitch for funding support.

Google has joined forces with the Kenya Medium & Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) and the Office of President William Ruto to provide small businesses (SMBs) in Kenya with access to Google's Hustle Academy. MSEA will educate participating SMBs about the government's programs supporting SMBs while the SMBs provide feedback to the Government on what it can do to improve the business/operating environment for SMBs.

The Department of Small Business Development supported the implementation of the Hustle Academy targeting 1200 SMBs in the country in 2022. Google provides support, training and resources to small businesses through the programme, which is focused on supporting small businesses and helping their businesses thrive.

The Kenyan Ministry of Education and Google are collaborating to develop an Android Developer Skills masterplan for Technical, Vocational, and Educational Institutions (TVETs) in Kenya. This program aims to support the training of software developers in TVET Institutions across the country by equipping tutors and students from TVET institutions with the skills to train and mentor aspiring Android mobile developers from respective institutions.
In 2022, 300 TVET Tutors from 47 counties were trained. The second phase kicked off in January 2023 and aims to train 3,000 tutors & students from 25 institutions across Kenya.

The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund partnered with Google on the Hustle Academy program. The free week-long boot camp aims to support small businesses in Africa to grow by increasing revenue, positioning for investment, and building a sustainable business for the future. The program equips participating small businesses with the skills and tools required to build their digital marketing strategies, create business growth plans, identify new markets, access funding opportunities, and ultimately successfully pitch for funding support.

Google has partnered with the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) - a South African-based skills development agency with a mandate to develop digital skills. This partnership will incorporate the Grow with Google curriculum in NEMISA training courses towards upskilling small businesses and youth in South Africa.

Since 2018, we have partnered with MTN Foundation to support +4,400 jobseekers and small businesses across Nigeria. Together we equip participants with skills to grow their businesses and careers through the power of digital.