Egypt has successfully mainstreamed information and communication technology (ICT) as part of its national development strategy over the last decade. The Eqyptian government formulated an ‘ICT Master Plan’ in 2000 to ensure the effective deployment and use of ICT for the benefit of its citizens and enterprises. The ECDL Foundation, UNESCO Cairo Office (the ICDL national operator in Egypt), and the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), in cooperation with Ministries of Education, Higher Education, and Administrative Development, launched a programme to certify 1,000,000 Egyptians in ICDL over a five-year period.

To achieve these goals, the government required a training and certification programme to eradicate computer illiteracy.The ICDL programme was considered the best option as it is an international indicator of competency designed in line with global ICT standards and covering key concepts and practical application.

By December 2010, more than 700,000 candidates had been enrolled in this project. MCIT commissioned experts to devise and implement an impact assessment study focusing on one particular target group – recently graduated students.

An extract from that study: “Overall, the ICDL programme contributed directly to the employment or enhancement of employment, of 35% of all beneficiaries [within a period of no less than five months after certification].”

To see the full case study click here.