The Senegalese government is exploring the creation of a Global Partnership for Youth Employment and Employability (PGEEJS) to address the country's significant youth unemployment challenge. According to the 2023 census (RGPH-5), 75% of Senegal's population is under 35 years old, presenting both a demographic opportunity and a challenge. The government aims to transform this youthful population into an economic and social dividend.
Senegal's youth unemployment rate stood at 28.4% in the first quarter of 2026, with 34.1% of young people aged 15-24 not in employment, education, or training. To tackle this issue, various public, private, and partnership initiatives are underway to support skills development, vocational training, and job creation. However, the persistence and scale of the challenge require a more comprehensive response that addresses both job creation and skills development.
The proposed initiative, dubbed the Employment and Employability of Young People in Senegal (EEJS), seeks to adopt a new approach that considers employment, employability, and skills development as interconnected aspects of a broader process of enhancing human capital. This approach prioritizes the development of a workforce capable of adapting to economic transformations, seizing opportunities, and creating new ones.
A key component of the EEJS is the development of vocational training and professional learning on a large scale, focusing on a range of skills and métiers that match current and future economic needs. The initiative draws inspiration from the World Bank's Human Capital Project, launched in 2017, which emphasizes investment in human capital as a critical driver of economic and social development.
The EEJS and proposed PGEEJS are not standalone programs but rather a new framework for collaboration among stakeholders, including government, private sector, international partners, and civil society. The goal is to create a cohesive, sustainable, and scalable response to youth unemployment, leveraging the strengths and complementarities of various actors.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises play a vital role in driving employment globally, with SMEs accounting for over 90% of businesses in many countries. The PGEEJS aims to support the development of these enterprises, particularly in local territories, by promoting skills development, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
The initiative's success will depend on the level of stakeholder engagement and buy-in, with the proposed PGEEJS providing a framework for collective action, coordination, and resource mobilization. The EEJS and PGEEJS represent a new approach to addressing youth unemployment in Senegal, one that prioritizes collaboration, skills development, and economic growth.
Key points
- The Senegalese government is exploring the creation of a Global Partnership for Youth Employment and Employability to address high youth unemployment.
- The proposed initiative prioritizes skills development, vocational training, and job creation, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.
- The success of the initiative will depend on stakeholder engagement and collaboration to create a cohesive and sustainable response to youth unemployment.
