Youth employment
Fourth Annual West African and Sahel Youth Forum
Youth Forum in Dakar charts a path for decent jobs and education in West Africa and the Sahel.
The Fourth Annual West African and Sahel Youth Forum took place in Dakar, Senegal, from 26–28 August 2025, bringing together more than 150 participants including government officials, employers’ and workers’ organizations, youth representatives, UN agencies, and development partners.
Held under the theme “Employment and Education in Emergencies for Young Women and Men: Building a Peaceful and Secure West Africa and Sahel”, the Forum provided a platform to address persistent challenges of youth unemployment, education in emergencies, and peacebuilding in fragile contexts. It reinforced the importance of meaningful youth participation in shaping solutions for resilience, stability, and sustainable development across the region.
Key sessions featured
Discussions highlighted the strong involvement of tripartite experts as well as youth leaders from across the region.
- Youth in West Africa and the Sahel: Challenges and Opportunities – explored precarious employment, the impact of insecurity and climate crises, and the need for greater youth participation in policy processes.
- Creating decent jobs for young people – focused on active labour market policies, entrepreneurship, and private sector-led opportunities.
- AU/ILO Youth Employment Strategy for Africa (YES-Africa) – presented priorities of the newly adopted continental framework, and identified synergies with national and regional needs. Learn more about YES-Africa here
- Public–private investment for youth employment – examined ways to mobilize investment and strengthen partnerships for job creation.
- Skills and innovation for youth employment – underlined vocational training, digital transformation, and green economy opportunities as levers for inclusion.
The Dakar Youth Compact
A major outcome of the Forum was the adoption of the Dakar Youth Compact, a collective call to action developed by youth delegates, in dialogue with policy-makers and social partners.
The Compact sets out a shared vision for the region’s youth: equitable access to quality education, the creation of decent jobs at scale, and stronger recognition of young people as drivers of peace and resilience. It also calls upon governments, employers, workers, and international partners to accelerate investment in youth-led solutions and ensure accountability in implementation.
Dakar Youth Compact 2025
An intergenerational commitment for a more just, resilient and inclusive future.
Looking ahead
The Forum concluded with a commitment from all participants to sustain momentum and translate recommendations into concrete action at national and regional levels. By fostering dialogue, forging partnerships, and placing young people at the centre, the Dakar Youth Forum marked an important step towards building inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous societies across West Africa and the Sahel.
Related content
Youth employment
Young People in West Africa and the Sahel Advocate for Decent Work and Equitable Access to Education in Emergencies
The Dakar Compact of Young Women and Men of West Africa and the Sahel for the Promotion of Decent Work and Education in Emergencies