Building Skills for Peace: IBM SKillsBuild

Increase in unemployment, particularly among young people, is recognised as a significant driver of instability and conflict. In many fragile or post-conflict environments, an increasing digital divide further compounds exclusion: without access to technology skills, large segments of the population are locked out of the modern economy, limiting their ability to participate in a stable society.

This structural inequality often pushes individuals into informal or illicit economies, or in extreme cases, recruitment by armed groups. As the global economy continues to digitise, access to relevant education and training has become a critical form of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. 

IBM launched SkillsBuild for Peace as part of its broader SkillsBuild programme, a free, worldwide education and career-readiness platform. It targets under-served groups, including young people in post-conflict societies, refugees and those from economically marginalised communities. The platform provides training in areas such as cybersecurity, software development and artificial intelligence, combining online coursework with mentorship, project-based learning and career guidance. By pairing technology upskilling with employability coaching, IBM ensures participants can transition into the workforce or start their own social enterprises.

This philanthropy also aligns with the IBM’s role as a global technology solutions provider. By building a wider base of qualified tech talent, IBM contributes to market growth, nurtures potential future employees and fosters stable economies in regions where conflict has taken away the opportunity. In doing so, IBM embeds peacebuilding outcomes within a sustainable, strategic business model. 

SkillsBuild for Peace strengthens multiple pillars of Positive Peace. High Levels of Human Capital are developed by providing participants with technical skills in demand in the global economy, alongside soft skills such as problem-solving and collaboration. This investment raises employability and lifetime earning potential, crucial for personal resilience. Equitable Distribution of Resources is advanced by targeting those who would otherwise face systemic barriers to quality education and employment, helping to close opportunity gaps between conflict-affected communities and more affluent populations.

Sound Business environment is fostered through the creation of a locally available, skilled workforce, which attracts responsible investment, enables entrepreneurship, and supports long-term economic growth. For instance, trained participants have gone on to develop digital services within their communities, diversifying local economies and reducing dependence on volatile or exploitative sectors. Together, these pillars create a more inclusive and resilient socio-economic foundation. 

Over time, IBM’s SkillsBuild for Peace creates a self-reinforcing cycle in which education drives employment, employment fosters stability and stability attracts further investment. As more participants gain high-value technical skills, communities become economically self-reliant and less susceptible to the economic shocks or grievances that often fuel instability.

Local businesses benefit from access to qualified talent, encouraging further private sector engagement in the peacebuilding process. By bridging the gap between global technology trends and marginalised populations, SkillsBuild not only changes individual lives but also addresses systemic inequalities and transforming latent conflict drivers into sources of inclusive and sustainable growth.