Keypoints:
- €24m pledged for youth inclusion
- Initiative aims to strengthen peace and security
- Cote d’Ivoire seen as regional stability anchor
THE European Union and Germany have pledged €24m to support youth inclusion in Cote d’Ivoire, in a move aimed at reinforcing peace, security and governance across the ECOWAS region.
The funding will finance the ECOWAS Support Project for Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG), a three-year initiative co-financed by Brussels and Berlin. Germany’s GIZ leads the consortium, working alongside Expertise France and Spain’s FIIAPP.
The announcement was made last week at a workshop on youth inclusion in Abidjan, where EU Ambassador Francesca Di Mauro underlined the importance of ensuring young people’s voices are central to policymaking.
‘This programme will ensure the voice and aspirations of young people are fully considered in peace and security policies,’ she said, highlighting that more than 60 per cent of Africa’s population is under 30.
Germany reaffirms commitment
German Embassy Deputy Head of Cooperation Danja Bergmann echoed the sentiment, stressing Berlin’s long-standing support for Cote d’Ivoire’s development.
‘Actively including young people in public policies means building a fairer and more resilient society,’ Bergmann said.
The project reflects a growing international consensus that youth engagement is critical to countering disinformation, extremist narratives and the political instability that have rocked parts of West Africa in recent years.
Economic growth and stability
Cote d’Ivoire’s appeal to international partners lies not only in its stability but also in its economic performance. Since the end of its civil war in 2011, the country has achieved an average growth rate of seven per cent between 2012 and 2023. Projections suggest growth will remain robust at around 6.5 per cent through 2025.
The country remains the world’s top cocoa producer and has successfully diversified into mining. In 2024 alone, it attracted $3.8bn in foreign direct investment — a 34 per cent increase on the previous year.
Youth unemployment is also among the lowest in the ECOWAS bloc, standing at just 3.9 per cent in 2024 compared to a regional average of 25 per cent. These figures highlight both the opportunities and the challenges of ensuring that young Ivorians are meaningfully integrated into governance and development.
Political implications
Analysts believe initiatives like EPSG are essential in shoring up stability ahead of elections in October. With neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger all experiencing military takeovers fuelled by youthful discontent, Cote d’Ivoire is seen as an anchor of democratic resilience.
‘The focus on young Ivorians is also crucial in the run-up to elections,’ one West African analyst told Africa Briefing.
‘Given that young and restive people in Francophone West Africa have been at the forefront of the revolutions that have taken place in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, it makes sense for the Ouattara government to keep its eye firmly on the wellbeing of the country’s young citizens.’
Anchoring regional peace
The EU and Germany’s investment in youth inclusion reflects a broader strategy to strengthen democratic governance in West Africa. By empowering young people, the EPSG initiative aims to prevent instability from spilling over into Cote d’Ivoire, reinforcing its role as a pillar of peace and investment in the region.
With elections looming and economic momentum continuing, the question for policymakers is whether these efforts will be enough to keep the country’s youth engaged and invested in a stable democratic future.
