By Marie-Ravor Freeman

Youth employment remains one of Côte d’Ivoire’s greatest challenges. To address this issue, the government is relying on the third edition of the National Employment and Recruitment Fair (FNER).

For four days, companies, recruitment firms, and institutional partners are meeting with thousands of young people at the Palais de la Culture de Treichville.

This platform of opportunities is one that Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé is encouraging Ivorian youth to seize, without giving in to discouragement, because there is hope.

This edition aims to bring young people closer to businesses, strengthen their employability, and promote professional integration. This vision is championed by the Minister of Youth, Employment, and Civic Service, Mamadou Touré.

The participants, most of whom are students, remain optimistic. Every day, they engage in discussions with business leaders, recruitment firms, and institutional partners to explore various pathways into the socio-economic fabric. These opportunities include training programs, internships, entrepreneurship, and even permanent recruitment for a first job.

The major innovation of this edition is the decentralization of the FNER. Young people from 27 regions now have the opportunity to participate in FNER 2026, bringing the event closer to youth, even in the most remote parts of the country.

With the participation of technical partners, recruitment agencies, and delegations from fellow African countries, FNER 2026 has established itself as a showcase of the Ivorian model for promoting youth employment.