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Free Learning From the World's ICT Trainers

A curated directory of free and open learning from ITU Academy, MIT OpenCourseWare, Harvard, GSMA, DiploFoundation, AFRALTI, ATU, and the CTO - mapped to Mafichoni's six pillars.

These resources are curated by Mafichoni but hosted by the institutions named on each card - they are not Mafichoni courses. Links open on the provider's own site, which governs enrolment, certification, availability, and any fees. Access models (free, subsidised, certificate-optional) are labelled per resource and were verified in July 2026; if a provider changes a link, let us know.

16 resources

Digital Infrastructure
Free · self-paced

Introduction to Telecommunications

ITU Academy · Online course

The fundamentals of telecom networks, technologies, and the ICT ecosystem - a grounding for anyone entering infrastructure or regulatory work.

Open on ITU Academy
Digital Governance
Free & paid tracks

Telecommunications Law and Regulation

ITU Academy · Online course

How telecom and ICT sectors are licensed, regulated, and governed - the legal frame regulators and operators work within.

Open on ITU Academy
Digital Advocacy
Free & paid tracks

Digital Transformation Regulation

ITU Academy · Online course

Collaborative, cross-sector regulation for the digital economy - the policy shift from telecom rules to whole-of-economy digital governance.

Open on ITU Academy
Digital Inclusion
Free · ITU certification

ICT Accessibility: The Key to Inclusive Communication

ITU Academy · 3 modules · self-paced

Policies, procurement rules, and technology for accessible ICT, concluding with ITU certification. Directly supports disability-inclusive design.

Open on ITU Academy
Digital Infrastructure
Free · CC-licensed

Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (full catalogue)

MIT OpenCourseWare · Course materials · self-study

Hundreds of MIT EECS courses - networks, signals, systems, and computing - as openly licensed notes, assignments, and video.

Open on MIT OpenCourseWare
Digital Skills & Training
Free · CC-licensed

MIT OpenCourseWare (all subjects)

MIT OpenCourseWare · 2,500+ courses · self-study

The full OCW library across data science, management, and engineering - free to download and reuse for self-paced upskilling.

Open on MIT OpenCourseWare
Digital Skills & Training
Free · paid certificate optional

CS50: Introduction to Computer Science

Harvard · 11-week course · self-paced

Harvard's flagship intro to computer science and programming - free to take, with an optional paid verified certificate via edX.

Open on Harvard
Digital Skills & Training
Free to audit

Free Online Courses catalogue

Harvard · Course catalogue

Harvard's open catalogue spanning data science, public leadership, and technology - free to audit online.

Open on Harvard
Digital Inclusion
Free toolkit

Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit (MISTT)

GSMA · Train-the-trainer resources

Free, adaptable lessons that teach first-time users the basic mobile-internet skills - the toolkit behind community digital-inclusion programmes.

Open on GSMA
Digital Advocacy
Free

Capacity Building: free mobile policy training

GSMA · Policy training

Free courses helping policy and regulatory teams build the knowledge to shape mobile-sector policy and digital-economy regulation.

Open on GSMA
Digital Governance
Free / subsidised (developing countries)

Introduction to Internet Governance

DiploFoundation · Online course

The institutions, actors, and issues of internet governance - foundational for anyone working in digital policy or multi-stakeholder forums.

Open on DiploFoundation
Digital Advocacy
Free / subsidised (developing countries)

Introduction to Internet and Digital Governance

DiploFoundation · Online course

How digital policy is made and contested across technology, security, and human-rights domains - a primer for advocacy and policy work.

Open on DiploFoundation
Digital Skills & Training
Free & paid tracks

AFRALTI Online Academy

AFRALTI · Online academy

The online arm of the African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute - ICT, networking, and regulatory capacity-building for the African market.

Open on AFRALTI
Digital Infrastructure
Paid · certification

Fibre Optics & networking certification tracks

AFRALTI · Certificate courses

FOA-recognised fibre-optic (CFOT, FTTH) and Cisco networking certifications - the hands-on skills behind connectivity build-outs.

Open on AFRALTI
Digital Infrastructure
Programme-based

ATU capacity building for regulators & member states

African Telecommunications Union · Capacity building

The African Union's ICT agency runs capacity-building on spectrum, connectivity, and regional market integration for regulators and industry.

Open on African Telecommunications Union
Digital Governance
Member programme

Capacity Building for Development Impact (CBDI)

Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation · Training service

CTO training across ICT policy, digital-transformation strategy, and workforce skills - aimed at building institutional capacity in member states.

Open on Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation

About the providers

Every provider in this library is an established telecommunications or digital-development trainer. Here's who they are and what they offer.

ITU Academy

The UN telecom agency's training arm. Self-paced and tutor-led courses on regulation, spectrum, digital development, and accessibility - several free, some with ITU certification.

MIT OpenCourseWare

2,500+ MIT courses published free under a Creative Commons licence - lecture notes, problem sets, exams, and video. No registration, self-study.

Harvard

Harvard's open catalogue of free online courses, including the CS50 computer-science series. Free to audit; verified certificates are optional and paid.

GSMA

The global mobile-industry body. Free capacity-building for policymakers and the Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit (MISTT) for frontline digital-inclusion trainers.

DiploFoundation

Specialists in internet governance and digital policy since 2002. Online courses in IG, cybersecurity, and data governance - free or subsidised for participants from developing countries.

AFRALTI

The African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (Nairobi), an ITU Academy Training Centre. Online academy plus fibre, networking, and cybersecurity tracks - free and paid.

African Telecommunications Union

The AU's specialised ICT agency. Capacity-building for regulators and member states on spectrum, connectivity, and ICT-market integration across Africa.

Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation

Capacity Building for Development Impact (CBDI): training across ICT policy, digital transformation strategy, and workforce skills for CTO member states.