Registration is now open for the next Project 1% for Africa cohort, which starts in October 2026. Along with the upcoming cohort, country chapters are being launched to support alumni engagement and local outreach. Available in Arabic, English, and French, the online courses allow participants to learn at their own pace over two months, with a few live lectures and a multiple-choice questions exam at the end. Interested participants can enroll at no cost and earn a certificate.
Since its pilot phase in October 2024, Project 1% for Africa has registered more than 11,800 learners across the continent, aged 35 and under, with women accounting for more than half of the participants.
Designed for students, educators, creators, innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and public-sector professionals, the course introduces participants to key areas of intellectual property (IP), including copyright, trademarks, industrial designs, patents, geographical indications, traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, genetic resources, and IP for development.
The project is supported by partnerships with more than 120 institutions, including 69 universities, the WIPO Algeria Office, and the WIPO Nigeria Office.
Country chapters expand alumni engagement
Building on this momentum, Project 1% for Africa is expanding through country chapters to strengthen grassroots awareness and engagement. The chapters invite committed alumni to contribute through collaboration, outreach, mentorship, advocacy, partnerships, knowledge exchange, and coordination.
Together, these efforts position Project 1% for Africa as both a regional initiative and a growing global learning resource, while maintaining its core focus on expanding access to practical IP education across the African continent.
Alumni and partners are encouraged to indicate their interest in joining or supporting their country chapter and in helping promote practical IP learning in their communities by registering at this link:
What our participants are saying
The course strengthened my views on how IP can support cultural and digital outputs. It is relevant for my media and communication research and teaching digital ethics, regulation, and copyright. The course exceeded my expectations by connecting intellectual property law with Africa’s digital and multimedia landscape. The live lectures combined global expertise with regional examples, making topics such as digital copyright protection practical and relevant. I highly recommend it to African academics and media professionals seeking to understand IP’s role in the modern knowledge economy.
Mohamed Aghoulaiche, Media Scholar,Algeria
I now see IP as an important intangible asset in business valuation, reporting, and advisory work. The course gave me a practical understanding of intellectual property, from patents, trademarks, and copyright to traditional knowledge and geographical indications. The live lectures made complex concepts accessible by linking global IP frameworks to real-world examples. I would highly recommend the course to professionals across sectors, as it shows how IP protects creativity, supports innovation, and contributes to economic development.
Olamide Olanipekun, Finance and Accounting Professional
Benin
The course broadened my perspective on how scientific discoveries can be protected, scaled, and used to benefit communities. The course exceeded my expectations by making intellectual property practical, engaging, and relevant beyond legal theory. The live lectures and Q&A sessions helped turn complex concepts into real-world knowledge, while topics such as Plant Variety Protection showed me how IP supports innovation, food security, and public interest. I would highly recommend it to professionals across fields, as it provides a clear and practical understanding of how IP drives innovation, protects creativity, and supports sustainable development.
Eunice Hammond, Researcher in Public Health Nutrition and Food Systems, Ghana
Find out more
- Register for the upcoming Project 1% for Africa course in Arabic
- Register for the upcoming Project 1% for Africa course in French
- Project 1% is Bringing IP Education to Thousands in Nigeria
- Project 1% Expands IP Education Across Africa
- Project 1% for Africa session open for registration after 2025 graduation