The governments of the United Arab Emirates and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have announced the expansion of the “5 Million Ethiopian Coders” initiative to become the “7 Million Ethiopian Coders” initiative, by adding two million new participants, following the success achieved by the program in exceeding its target in less than two years.
This step reflects confidence in the results achieved by the initiative since its launch, as well as the growing impact it has made in building digital capabilities and empowering Ethiopian youth with future skills. It also comes as part of the strategic partnership between the two governments in government modernization, development, and digital capacity building.
This achievement highlights the depth of cooperation between the UAE and Ethiopia in empowering national talent and expanding access to digital knowledge. Through shared expertise and aligned visions, the two countries are working to strengthen the readiness of future generations, support digital transformation, and promote a knowledge-based economy.
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, said that reaching five million Ethiopian coders in less than two years represents an exceptional achievement that reflects Ethiopia’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation and empowering youth and communities with future-ready skills.
He added that the strong interest shown by Ethiopian youth, along with the initiative’s success in exceeding its target ahead of schedule, encouraged the decision to expand the program by adding two million new participants. This will allow a wider segment of young people to benefit from digital learning opportunities and acquire the skills needed for the future.
Abiy Ahmed also expressed his appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for its strategic partnership and continued support, noting that this cooperation played an important role in accelerating the achievement of this milestone. He said the success of the initiative reflects the importance of international cooperation in supporting national priorities, creating new economic opportunities, encouraging innovation, and laying the foundations for an inclusive, knowledge-based digital economy.
For his part, His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, affirmed that the partnership between the governments of the UAE and Ethiopia in the fields of government modernization has achieved significant results, supported by the guidance and vision of the leaderships of the two friendly countries, which share distinguished bilateral relations across various sectors.
His Excellency said that the partnership with the Government of Ethiopia represents a practical model of the impact of international cooperation in developing societies and governments, empowering human talent, and supporting digital transformation. He added that expanding the “5 Million Ethiopian Coders” initiative to 7 million coders, after attracting numbers that exceeded the target ahead of schedule, reflects the success of both the broader partnership and the initiative itself in creating a clear positive impact.
His Excellency also noted that the two governments continue to strengthen joint projects aimed at youth and future leaders, with the goal of enabling them to acquire the necessary skills, enhancing their readiness for the future, and helping them keep pace with rapid digital changes.
The number of registered participants in the initiative reached 5,005,146 by last June, surpassing the target set when the initiative was launched in July 2024. This reflects the success of the cooperation in attracting large numbers of young people, expanding access to digital knowledge, developing national talent, and creating a sustainable developmental impact.
The “5 Million Ethiopian Coders” initiative was launched in July 2024 as part of the strategic partnership in government knowledge exchange between the UAE and Ethiopia. It aims to equip young people with essential digital skills and enhance their opportunities to benefit from the digital economy across Africa and around the world.
