West African experts, government officials, and development partners convened in Freetown to discuss practical strategies for addressing youth unemployment and expanding economic opportunities. The discussions took place during the 29th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts for West Africa, held on October 28, 2026. The theme of the session was "Unlocking the Potential of Young People in West Africa: Pathways to Employment, Economic Transformation and Resilience."
Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay delivered the keynote address on behalf of Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh. Barlay called on participating countries to translate policy commitments into measurable actions that deliver tangible results for young people. She described West Africa's youthful population as a major economic asset, stressing that governments must invest in education, skills development, healthcare, and enterprise opportunities.
Barlay highlighted Sierra Leone's approach to addressing youth unemployment, which includes creating at least 500,000 new jobs for young people by 2030 through skills development and expanded economic opportunities. The government's Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024-2030 identifies youth employment as one of its Big Five Game Changers. Initiatives such as the Free Quality School Education programme and the Feed Salone initiative aim to strengthen human capital development and transform agriculture and fisheries.
Despite these interventions, Barlay acknowledged that underemployment, informal work, limited access to finance, skills mismatches, and climate vulnerability continue to constrain employment opportunities in Sierra Leone and other West African countries. She urged delegates to develop an action-oriented Freetown Declaration on youth empowerment, supported by clear targets, implementation timelines, and defined responsibilities.
Director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa's Subregional Office for West Africa, Ngone Diop, emphasized the need to place youth employment at the centre of economic transformation strategies. Diop noted that an estimated 60.9 per cent of West Africa's population would be under 25 in 2026. She stressed that the region's demographic potential would not automatically generate economic benefits without adequate investment in education, healthcare, skills, technology, and productive employment.
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone Seraphine Wakana highlighted the importance of economic diversification, industrialisation, and regional integration in creating opportunities for young people. Wakana commended Sierra Leone's growing role in regional youth engagement, citing the inaugural Mano River Union YouthConnekt Forum held in Freetown in June 2026. She called for stronger partnerships with the private sector and increased investment in education, skills, finance, and technology.
The meeting provides an opportunity for participating countries to review the work of the ECA Subregional Office for West Africa and recommend priorities for future regional cooperation. The deliberations are expected to inform practical policy recommendations aimed at connecting youth development with economic transformation, improving access to decent work, and creating more inclusive and resilient economies across West Africa.
Key points
- West African experts gather in Freetown to address youth unemployment and expand economic opportunities.
- Sierra Leone aims to create at least 500,000 new jobs for young people by 2030.
- The region's demographic potential will not automatically generate economic benefits without adequate investment in education, healthcare, skills, technology, and productive employment.
