(Ecofin Agency) - Youth integration is one of the key priorities of the Ivorian government. The government wants to increase the graduate integration rate to 65% by 2025, up from 32% in 2020. To achieve this, the country plans to make investments in dedicated programs over the 2023-2025 period. 

In 2023, the Ivorian government will invest more than CFAF360 billion ($594 million) for the integration of more than 600,000 young people. The plan was disclosed in the release published after the ministerial council held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. 

This investment will be made through the 2023-2025 Government Youth Program (PJ-GOUV). Complementing the National Development Plan 2021-2025 and the government’s 2023 roadmap, this program is focused on accelerating training and professional integration and promoting youth entrepreneurship. It also aims to strengthen youth civic engagement and social ethics while improving their well-being. 

According to the government,  "this large-scale program aims to amplify public policies in favor of young people, to ensure their successful integration into the workforce and guarantee them better living conditions." 

The program will be led by the Prime Minister, with the participation of all public and private actors, civil society, and development partners.

The youth is an important focus of the Ivorian government. During his 2023 new year address,  President Alassane Ouattara announced 2023 will be the “year of the youth”.  Also, the Ministry of Higher Education wants to increase the graduate integration rate from 32% (in 2020) to 65% by 2025. In 2021, the unemployment rate was 2.8% and the employment/population ratio (15-24 years) was 41%, according to World Bank data.

Let’s note that the PJ-GOUV 2023-2025 is estimated at CFAF 1,118 billion ($1.8 billion). It focuses on several areas including the rehabilitation and construction of infrastructure that would serve to train and ensure the professional integration of  1.5 million young people over the period.