In a strategic move to bridge the gap between education and employment, Côte d’Ivoire’s National Agency for Vocational Training (AGEFOP) unveiled a groundbreaking study report in Abidjan, outlining real-time labor market skill requirements.
The Passeport-Compétences program, launched in March 2025 in Grand-Bassam, aims to align vocational training with actual economic demands, ensuring young professionals are equipped for sustainable careers. A pilot phase of this initiative, conducted in the Sud-Comoé region, Yopougon commune, and Savanes District, engaged over 800 formal and informal sector entities to identify critical skill shortages.
Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé, President of the Economic, Social, Environmental, and Cultural Council (CESEC), emphasized the importance of data-driven workforce planning. Speaking at the June 18, 2026 presentation, he stated: “Skill-job alignment is not a distant goal but a structured process rooted in empirical evidence. This initiative places human capital at the heart of Côte d’Ivoire’s development, offering a precise roadmap for future vocational policies.”
He further highlighted the program’s role in certifying informal sector workers, calling it a “pact of trust between the State and youth” that guarantees competence as the primary driver of success.
Maître Adama Kamara, the Minister of Employment, Social Protection, and Vocational Training, framed the program not as a corrective measure but as an accelerator of growth. Its objectives include:
- Mapping national skill demands
- Training and integrating beneficiaries into the economy
- Validating informal workers’ experience through recognized certifications
- Ensuring businesses access a qualified workforce
- Revising training curricula to meet employer needs
Karitia Coulibaly De Medeiros, Director-General of AGEFOP, underscored the program’s transformative vision: “Vocational training is no longer a peripheral policy but a strategic investment for national competitiveness, job creation, and social inclusion.”
The initiative prioritizes localized economic analysis, collaborating with businesses to anticipate future skill requirements. By fostering synergies between training institutions, local governments, and employers, the program ensures that competencies translate into durable employment and economic autonomy.
With a mandate to empower every Ivoirian to convert potential into recognized skills, Passeport-Compétences positions competence as a national asset, driving sustainable prosperity.
