L’investissement d’impact et l’employabilité des jeunes dans la zone UEMOA
June 09, 2026
As a result of the region’s relatively late demographic transition, the economies of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) are seeing large cohorts of young people enter the labour market. Supporting their transition into employment is a major policy challenge for the region’s economic growth, social cohesion and sustainable development.
Under its partnership agreement with the WAEMU Commission, FERDI is conducting research to better understand the barriers to youth employment and identify public policies that can support young people’s sustainable integration into the economy.
A first report examines the determinants of youth employment in rural areas across WAEMU member states.
The research focuses in particular on young people’s participation in agriculture and the main factors shaping their access to economic opportunities:
The report also examines the opportunities offered by rural non-farm employment, as well as the role of unpaid care work, which can restrict access to economic opportunities for some young people, particularly young women.
A second report explores the links between impact investment and youth employability in WAEMU.
It examines the potential contribution of impact investors to financing economic activities that create employment opportunities for young people, as well as to developing initiatives in education, training and support for the transition into work.
These investments can therefore help foster entrepreneurship, strengthen skills and improve young people’s access to sustainable employment.
This research aims to provide policymakers with analysis and practical recommendations to better address the needs of young people and support their economic inclusion.More broadly, it contributes to discussions on employment, training, investment and rural development policies across WAEMU member states.
