• Congo’s FONEA launched a free national program to train 3,000 youths in beadwork.
• The initiative targets young people aged 16 to 35 and combines training, production, and commercialization.
• Authorities aim to curb youth unemployment, which stood at about 39.99% in 2024.

During a press conference held on Tuesday, December 30, in Brazzaville, the National Fund for Employability and Apprenticeship Support (FONEA) announced the launch of a national program offering free training in beadwork. The initiative aims to strengthen youth employability and self-employment. The program benefits from support from the African Recovery Company (SAR) and plans to train 3,000 beneficiaries in an artisanal sector that remains weakly structured but shows economic potential.

According to the details released, the program targets young people aged 16 to 35. The structure combines vocational training, a production phase, and the commercialization of finished products. Through this integrated approach, authorities aim to organize an activity that remains largely informal and to transform it into a market-oriented entrepreneurial venture.

The program offers training free of charge and includes the distribution of starter kits to participants. In addition, organizers plan post-training support to assess the program’s impact on professional integration. FONEA Director Ghislain Louboya said the initiative will begin with a pilot phase in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire before expanding gradually nationwide.

Officials said the project aims to “make beadwork a lever for self-employment and sustainable integration,” according to the head of the Fund. He added that the program seeks not only to teach a trade but also to “forge real entrepreneurs” capable of generating stable income. Authorities selected beadwork for its perceived economic potential, its ability to create outlets in artisanal and local markets, and its contribution to promoting “Made in Congo” products.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns over youth employment. According to World Bank data cited by Global Economy, the unemployment rate among 15–24-year-olds in the Republic of Congo remained high at about 39.99% in 2024, well above the global average.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum