From degree to job: the skills employers are asking for.

DANGBE is a free, online, self-paced program for young Togolese graduates. Critical thinking, digital tools, teamwork: skills built on recognised open courseware, validated by a certificate, and a clear signal to employers.

Apply See the program

100% freeOnline, at your own paceIndependent and volunteer-led

Pilot cohort

Applications open

Cost0 FCFA
FormatOnline, self-paced
Duration3 to 6 months
LanguageFrench or English

Two audiences, one goal.

Graduates who want to be ready. Employers who want to hire people who are ready. The program is written with both.

You just graduated

Bachelor’s, master’s or two-year degree, any field
A computer or a smartphone, and internet access
The will to learn and to say what works and what does not

Apply

You hire in Togo or elsewhere in Africa

Tell us which skills you value (5 minutes)
Receive the survey results
Meet the certified graduates

Take the survey

Six skills, chosen with employers.

What businesses and NGOs say they look for, and what university rarely teaches. The employer survey refines this list.

Digital literacy

Working with the tools of the modern office: email, shared documents, spreadsheets, video calls.

Critical thinking

Assessing information, telling a fact from an opinion, arguing with evidence.

Problem-solving

Breaking a situation down, proposing options, choosing and explaining why.

Logical reasoning

Following and building an argument, reading data, spotting an error.

Teamwork

Communicating clearly, keeping commitments, giving and receiving feedback.

Adaptability

Learning fast, accepting change, staying reliable when the context moves.

Built on existing open courseware: Coursera, edX, Khan Academy, OpenClassrooms. DANGBE selects and sequences; the courses remain their publishers’.

The program in detail

How it works

Four steps. No fees, no mandatory attendance.

Apply

A short form: your background, your access to digital tools, your motivation. An answer within two weeks.

Follow the courses, at your own pace

A pathway of open online courses, selected and sequenced by the team. Three months, six months or more, depending on your availability.

Move forward with support

A personal tracking space, regular check-ins with a volunteer, exchanges with your cohort.

Earn the DANGBE certificate

A statement that tells employers what you can do. With your consent, your profile is shared with the employers who answered the survey.

Three pathways, one certificate.

The content is the same, the pace changes. French-language options exist for every pathway.

Short — about 3 months

For those with time every day who want to be ready fast.

Same content
Same support
Same certificate

Medium — 6 months

For those already working or job-hunting, a few hours a week.

Same content
Same support
Same certificate

Long — at your own pace

For those who move step by step, with no deadline.

Same content
Same support
Same certificate

FrenchEnglish

Employers: tell us what you look for.

Five minutes of survey shape the program. In return, you meet graduates trained on the skills you named yourself.

« By listening carefully to employers, we can close the gap between academic preparation and workplace expectations. »
A project volunteer

Take the survey (5 min)Why hire a DANGBE graduate

A volunteer team, independent.

Togolese alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and American volunteers, giving their time.

Who we are

A team of volunteers, mostly Togolese alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, joined by American volunteers. No employees: everyone brings their time, their professional experience and their knowledge of the ground.

What we are not

We depend on no government, no embassy, no NGO. We receive no funding. The program is free because the time is given.

Meet the team

Where DANGBE stands

In order: listen to employers, test with a first cohort, then open to all of Togo. Updated by the team.

01
Employer survey
In progresssince September 2026
Businesses and NGOs in Togo and the region tell us which skills they value. Their answers set the content of the program.
02
Applications to the pilot cohort
In progress
Young graduates apply. The team selects on motivation, access to digital tools and willingness to give feedback.
03
Pilot cohort
Next
A first group follows the program, with close support, and tells us what works and what does not.
04
Adjustments
Next
The program is corrected from the feedback of participants and employers.
05
Opening to all of Togo
Next
The program opens more widely, cohort after cohort.

Frequently asked questions

Can’t find the answer? Write to us.

Write to us

01Is it really free?

Yes. The program relies on free, open online courses, and the team is made of volunteers. Some platforms offer an optional paid certificate; it is never required.

02Who can apply?

Young graduates of higher education in Togo (two-year degree, bachelor’s, master’s or equivalent), any field. The pilot cohort favours recent graduates.

03Do I need a computer?

A computer helps, but a smartphone with regular internet access is enough for most courses. We ask you to describe your access in the application so we can adapt the pathway.

04Is the certificate recognised?

It is not a state diploma. It is a statement of verified skills, built with Togolese employers who said what they look for. Its value comes from that, and from the way we verify each step.

05How long does it take?

About three months for the short pathway, six for the medium one, and no deadline for the long one. The content and the certificate are the same.

06Does DANGBE depend on an embassy, a government or an NGO?

No. DANGBE is an independent initiative, run by volunteers, with no affiliation and no funding.

07How does the follow-up work?

Each participant has a personal space where they record their progress and attach their proofs of completion. A volunteer validates, answers questions and holds regular check-ins. Assessments punctuate the pathway.