FOUND Africa Technology
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Questions

Everything people ask us, answered plainly.

If your question is not here, email support@fatech.app and a person will answer it.

Credibility and cost

Is FOUND free for young people?
Yes. Applying is free, the training is free, and there is no fee at any point to become or remain a FOUND Digital Officer. The curriculum is built on free, publicly available courses, so nobody is asked to pay for course access either.
Is this a scam? How do I know it is real?
Fair question, and the right one to ask. Three checks: we never ask an officer for money, for a bank PIN, or for a payment to unlock training or a job. Every skill we advertise is a certificate issued by a named third party such as Google, with an issuer and an issuance date on the record. And FOUND Africa Technology is a registered organisation with a published address and contact email, not an anonymous account.
Who runs FOUND?
FOUND is led by a team of technology operators, educators and talent-development professionals working on pan-African economic empowerment. The programme team runs training and verification; a placement team runs employer briefs, trials and conversions; a community team runs the state networks, forums and competitions.
Will I be asked to pay for a placement or a project?
Never. Officers are paid for paid projects; they do not pay to be considered. If anyone contacts you asking for a fee in FOUND's name, it is not us — email support@fatech.app immediately.

Eligibility

Who can apply?
Young people aged 16 and above, anywhere in Africa. You do not need a degree, prior tech experience or a laptop to start — the first courses can be completed on a phone. You do need a working email address, a phone number and the willingness to finish what you start.
Do I need to be a student?
No. Students, graduates, and people who never went to university are all eligible. If you did attend an institution you can add it, which places you in that campus network.
Which countries do you operate in?
Our primary footprint is Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, and officers apply from across the continent. Because the work is remote-first, an officer in one country can serve a client in another.

Timing and commitment

How long does the application take to be reviewed?
Most applications are reviewed within a few days. You will be emailed at the personal address you applied with once your account and official email are ready.
How long does the training take?
It is self-paced. A focused officer can complete the foundation courses in a few weeks working a few hours a week; others take longer. Nothing expires, and there is no penalty for going slowly.
How many hours a week do I need?
There is no minimum. Officers who log more verified courses and outcomes surface higher in the partner directory, so effort compounds, but you set the pace.

Training and verification

What happens if I fail or abandon a course?
Nothing bad. Courses can be retaken as many times as you need. Only a verified completion is recorded, so an unfinished attempt simply does not appear.
Why was my certificate not verified?
The most common reasons are a private or expired certificate link, a name that does not match your FOUND profile, or a screenshot instead of the issuer's verification page. Fix the link and resubmit — there is no limit on resubmissions.
Do employers see my personal details?
No. The partner directory shows only what you choose to publish — your officer number, and optionally your name, country, bio and social links — alongside your verified skills and logged outcomes. Emails, phone numbers, dates of birth, bank details and documents are never exposed.

Work and pay

How do officers get paid?
Paid projects and placements are paid by the employer or partner on the agreed terms, and the outcome is logged against your profile. Competitions and seed funding are separate and are awarded by FOUND.
How does hiring work for employers?
Brief us on the role, country and headcount. We dispatch it to officers whose verified record matches. You can start with a 10-day pro-bono trial scored daily against a five-point scorecard, then convert the officers who average 80% or better onto a paid contract, or go straight to a paid contract.
What does it cost an employer?
The trial is pro-bono — you pay nothing to evaluate. Once you convert an officer, you pay the officer for the work on the terms you agree. For programme-scale engagements, email partners@foundafrica.tech and we will scope it with you.

Account and data

What data do you collect, and why?
We collect what is needed to verify you and to run the programme: your name, contact details, date of birth, location, optional institution, and the certificates you submit. It is used to verify your identity and skills, to issue your official email, and to match you to opportunities. It is not sold.
Can I leave, or delete my account?
Yes, at any time and without penalty. Email support@fatech.app from your registered address and we will close your account and remove your profile from every public listing.
Something is broken or I need help. What do I do?
Email support@fatech.app with your officer number and what you were doing when it went wrong. Officers can also raise it inside the community forum, where the team and other officers answer.

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