On October 6, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) signed a memorandum of understanding. The agreement aims to strengthen the role of youth in the country's ecological and economic transition. UNICEF's representative in Côte d'Ivoire, Jean François Basse, and GGGI's country representative, Olola Vieyra, signed the accord at UNICEF's Abidjan-Cocody office.
The partnership leverages the strengths of both organizations. GGGI specializes in modeling low-carbon growth trajectories and mobilizing green investments. UNICEF focuses on protecting children's rights, providing access to essential social services, and developing youth potential. Through platforms like Yoma, U-Report, and youth clubs, UNICEF will identify, mobilize, and prepare young people from various regions.
The collaboration will offer a comprehensive pathway for young people. It will begin with information and training, followed by incubation, financing, and ultimately, the creation of sustainable businesses and jobs. This initiative aims to address three key priorities: preparing youth for future careers in renewable energy, circular economy, smart agriculture, and waste management.
The second priority focuses on transforming young people's ideas into concrete, visible solutions. The third priority involves mobilizing large-scale investments jointly. According to Jean François Basse, young people should not be mere beneficiaries of climate policies but rather designers, innovators, and leaders in the climate economy.
The partnership aligns with GGGI's 2030 strategy, which seeks to enhance the capacities of countries it supports. The strategy also aims to improve access to sustainable finance and capital markets, promote access to technologies and innovations, and strengthen climate change considerations in public policies.
Olola Vieyra emphasized that the collaboration aims to ensure young people benefit from development and investments in key sectors. A joint work plan with rigorous performance indicators will be established to evaluate progress. The success of the partnership will be measured by the effective professional insertion of young people, the sustainability of created businesses, and the tangible strengthening of community resilience.
By combining their expertise, UNICEF and GGGI aim to make climate investments also investments in the future of Côte d'Ivoire's youth. The partnership is expected to have a positive impact on the country's ecological and economic transition, with a focus on empowering young people to take a leading role.
Key points
- UNICEF and GGGI partner to empower youth in Côte d'Ivoire's ecological transition
- The partnership aims to prepare young people for future careers in renewable energy and sustainable sectors
- The collaboration seeks to mobilize large-scale investments and support the creation of sustainable businesses and jobs
