• Côte d’Ivoire integrates AI into national career guidance

• 2026 Career Days focus on AI skills, ethics

• Government expands youth employability programs nationwide

Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Technical Education has made artificial intelligence central to career guidance for young people as the country launched the 13th edition of its Career Days.

The ceremony, chaired by Sangaré Moustapha, chief of staff at MENAET, was held on Monday, Feb. 9, at the Palace of Culture in Treichville and brought together students, trainers, companies and representatives of professional sectors.

According to the Ivorian Press Agency (AIP), the 2026 edition centers on a panel hosted by the Directorate of Guidance and Scholarships under the theme: “Artificial Intelligence: Skills and careers for youth engaged in Côte d'Ivoire’s sustainable transformation.” Discussions focused on emerging AI-related professions, the required technical and transferable skills, and the ethical, social and environmental issues associated with these technologies.

For education authorities, career guidance can no longer be limited to traditional pathways. It must now integrate the full range of training options to inform students’ choices and bridge the gap between schools and the workplace. The national launch marks the start of activities across regional directorates, with the aim of ensuring that every student has access to reliable information on in-demand professions and skills.

The initiative comes as employability programs expand. In December, the government launched the National Program for Internships, Apprenticeships and Retraining (PNSAR 2026), targeting more than 150,000 young people, including 100,000 through workplace immersion programs. Despite an official unemployment rate estimated at 2.3%, experts say the figure does not fully reflect the difficulties young graduates face in securing formal and sustainable employment in a labor market dominated by the informal sector.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou