Twenty young people from Porto-Novo completed the D-CLIC training program in 2026. This group included 10 young women who participated in the digital skills initiative alongside their peers. The program took place in Bénin, organized through the OIF and the ONG RAIL.
Program Curriculum and Structure
Participants completed a training program spanning six months. The curriculum focused on three specific technical areas: cybersecurity, web development, and digital marketing. The six-month duration allowed students to delve deeply into these specialized fields, ensuring that each participant gained practical experience in the core competencies required for the modern digital economy. By dedicating two full quarters to the study of these subjects, the D-CLIC initiative aimed to provide a full foundation for the students involved.
The training modules for cybersecurity were designed to introduce the youth of Porto-Novo to the essential principles of network protection and data integrity. In the web development segment of the course, students learned the foundational languages and frameworks necessary to build functional, responsive websites. Finally, the digital marketing curriculum provided insights into online promotional strategies, social media management, and the analytical tools used to track digital performance.
ONG RAIL managed the program in partnership with the OIF. These two organizations coordinated the instructional delivery throughout the duration of the course in Bénin. The collaboration between the OIF and the ONG RAIL ensured that the necessary resources, including technical equipment and qualified instructors, were available to all 20 participants. The partnership leveraged the expertise of the OIF in international digital education standards while utilizing the local operational capacity of the ONG RAIL to facilitate the daily training sessions in Porto-Novo.
Certification and Future Outlook
Officials awarded certificates of completion on 9 October 2026. The ceremony occurred at the offices of the ONG RAIL in Porto-Novo. During the event, the graduates were recognized for their commitment to the six-month program and their successful completion of all required technical assessments. The venue, located at the ONG RAIL offices, hosted the participants, their instructors, and representatives from the partner organizations who oversaw the initiative.
The awarding of these certificates on 9 October 2026 marks the formal conclusion of the D-CLIC program for this cohort. By completing the training in cybersecurity, web development, and digital marketing, the 20 young participants from Porto-Novo have acquired a specific set of skills intended to assist them in their professional development. The OIF and the ONG RAIL have emphasized the importance of this training in the context of the digital landscape in Bénin. As the participants move forward, the skills gained during the six-month period serve as the primary outcome of the partnership between the OIF and the ONG RAIL. The ceremony at the ONG RAIL offices served as a formal acknowledgement of the work completed by the 10 young women and their 10 male peers who participated in the initiative.
