• Côte d’Ivoire, DRC launch cooperation on education and planning
• Initiative targets skills gaps and youth employment challenges
• Effort aims to align education systems with labor market needs

Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have launched a cooperation initiative to exchange expertise in education and development planning, as both countries face mounting demographic pressure and persistent skills mismatches.

A Congolese delegation led by Minister of State Guylain Nyembo Mbwizya met his Ivorian counterpart N’Guessan Koffi, according to a statement issued by Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Education on March 31, 2026.

Talks focused on aligning education systems with labor market needs, a challenge affecting both countries as youth populations grow rapidly.

Ivorian authorities outlined a strategy centered on employability. Officials presented an overview of the education system, including demographic trends, 2024–2025 school data, and ongoing reforms such as infrastructure expansion and technical and vocational training programs.

Targeted initiatives, including the Académie des Talents and the École de la Deuxième Chance, aim to better prepare young people for the job market and improve school-to-work transitions.

In the DRC, the government is prioritizing rapid expansion of access to education. Nyembo Mbwizya presented a program to cover all 145 territories through the construction of schools and health centers. The World Bank says the approach is intended to reduce disparities between urban and rural areas.

Broader Challenges Shape Policy

Beyond infrastructure, discussions highlighted less obvious factors affecting education outcomes. The Congolese minister pointed to the impact of nutrition on learning and stressed the need to integrate disability and mental health into public policy.

These concerns align with UNICEF findings that malnutrition can have long-term effects on school performance.

Financing and governance were also discussed, including funding mechanisms and how projects are implemented. The goal is to make education systems more effective while adapting to rapid population growth.

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to developing human capital through student mobility and stronger statistical systems. The Congolese delegation said it aims to draw practical lessons from Côte d’Ivoire’s experience.

Persistent Labor Market Pressures

The initiative comes as labor market pressures persist. In Côte d’Ivoire, youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 fell from 9.7% in 2012 to 4.3% in 2022, according to the World Bank. However, government data show that nearly 90% of jobs remain informal.

In the DRC, youth unemployment stood at 7.95% in 2024, nearly double Côte d’Ivoire’s level. Employment is also largely precarious, with 84% of jobs in the informal sector.

Gaps in education access compound the issue. Côte d’Ivoire’s gross primary enrollment rate reached 96.6% in 2023, but only 49.8% of secondary school-age children were enrolled. In the DRC, UNICEF reported that 18% of children aged 5 to 17 were out of school in 2025, with nearly 1.4 million unable to attend due to conflict-related closures.

By deepening cooperation, Abidjan and Kinshasa are responding to a shared challenge: expanding education is no longer enough—young people must also be equipped to secure stable employment in changing economies.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou