The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) have reinforced their partnership to promote youth employment during a high-level meeting held on 3 February 2026 at the WAEMU Commission headquarters in Ouagadougou. The discussions centered on a joint ILO-WAEMU programme for 2026–2030, which is currently being developed to support young people in the region.
The ILO delegation was led by Coffi Dominique Agossou, Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Africa, and included senior representatives such as Ndeye Coumba Diop, Director of the ILO Country Office for Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo, as well as specialists in youth employment, skills, and employability. The WAEMU side was represented by its President, Abdoulaye Diop, alongside Union Commissioners.
The planned programme aims to provide sustainable access to decent and productive employment for young women and men aged 15 to 35 across WAEMU member states. It focuses on several areas, including stimulating job demand, improving the productivity of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, strengthening youth employability, enhancing employment quality, and reinforcing labour market governance.
Mr. Agossou highlighted that the initiative represents a structured regional response to the persistent challenges of youth employment, combining political leadership, technical expertise, and adherence to international labour standards. Ms. Diop emphasized the programme’s operational focus, aiming to produce tangible results for young people—particularly young women—by linking skills development, productive investment, and decent job opportunities in line with national and regional WAEMU priorities.
President Abdoulaye Diop praised the strong cooperation between the ILO and WAEMU and reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to implementing the programme. Technical teams from both institutions will continue to finalize the programme document and prepare for its official launch, reinforcing regional efforts to boost youth employment across West Africa.
