The African Union (AU) perceives entrepreneurship as a sustainable solution to the employment crisis in Africa. It serves as a key driver for the envisaged structural economic transformation outlined in Agenda 2063, with the potential to create millions of jobs. With estimations from the World Bank suggesting that approximately 11 million young people are expected to enter the job market annually over the next decade, urgent attention must be directed towards enhancing Africa's capacity to train and integrate this burgeoning workforce, which remains predominantly confined to the informal sector.
While it is evident that the public sector alone cannot accommodate the entirety of this demand, Sahelian youth need an innovative and dynamic private sector, one that they themselves construct, and that can serve as the impetus for the much-needed economic transformation in the region, adding value to its abundant natural resources. Consequently, youth entrepreneurship assumes a central role in this endeavor, shaped by technology, innovation, and digitalization. These prospects harbor the potential to expedite and invigorate economic growth, not only within traditional sectors but also in modern ones. Thus, public policies must undertake adequate measures to facilitate this transformation.
Data released by the United Nations (UN) reveals that the average age of the population in 2020 stood at 19.7 years, significantly lower than the global average of 30.9 years. Furthermore, over half of the global population growth projected by 2050 will take place on the African continent.
Cameroon, Fostering Agricultural Entrepreneurship
Consistently identified as one of Africa's “most entrepreneurial” nations, Cameroon possesses immense potential in terms of integrating its young people to combat unemployment. Over the decades, the creation of small and medium-sized enterprises has successfully contributed to poverty reduction. However, various obstacles persist, including high taxation, bureaucratic complexities, limited access to financing, and corruption, impeding further progress. The Cameroon National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (SND 30) for structural transformation and inclusive development sets among its major objectives the promotion of employment and economic inclusion of its population, relying for this purpose on the development of microenterprises, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and youth entrepreneurship.
A Policy Championed by International Organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) seeks to bolster the capacity of young entrepreneurs and provide them with the necessary support to launch their ventures. This approach has found success in the far north of Cameroon, specifically within the agricultural sector, which serves as a significant catalyst for economic growth and accounted for 60% of employment in 2020. Chetima Guidadi, a 27-year-old visionary leading a small agricultural collective in the locality of Gancé (Mayo-Sava Division), has benefited from training, seeds, and equipment, allowing him to revitalize his agricultural activities that were disrupted in the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency. Following in Chetima's footsteps, 1,500 young people in the region now have a stable livelihood.
"We cultivate onions and garlic. Each year since 2021, we have expanded our plots, nurturing the aspiration of establishing a thriving enterprise with a global reach. I firmly believe in this vision, for young people possess an unrivaled work ethic and an unwavering spirit of solidarity."
Chetima Guidadi, Head of an Agricultural Collective
In Chad, an Ambitious Program for Empowering Young People through Capacity Building
In Chad, a neighbouring country also grappling with the challenges posed by the jihadist threat, the focus of decision-making bodies amidst a backdrop of political transition and high poverty rates lies in enhancing the capacity and empowering the youth to contribute to the nation's development and stability. The economic implementation of the Stabilization, Recovery, and Resilience Strategy for the Lake Chad Basin, which has borne the brunt of the Boko Haram crisis, is spearheaded by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), with immediate stabilization efforts led by the UNDP. This strategy adopts a resolute orientation towards young people and women, resulting in over 50,000 individuals benefiting from financial support to establish or revive their entrepreneurial endeavors in the provinces of Lac and Hadjer-Lamis. Through a multi-faceted approach encompassing community initiatives, grants for traders, producers, and livestock breeders, as well as comprehensive training programs, the trust fund of international partners of the Lake Chad Basin states has allocated a remarkable sum of 16 million euros in 2022. This infusion of resources breathes new life into the economic fabric of rural areas, rekindling hope for a prosperous future. Of particular significance is the plan to expand this initial phase, currently being piloted in select provinces, to encompass the entirety of Chad's territory, where 70% of the population consists of young individuals.
"In addition to the inherent challenges of accessing stable employment in a conducive environment, the youth, women, and children face heightened vulnerabilities during times of crisis. Thus, it is paramount to prioritize access to employment, sustainable livelihoods, and promising economic prospects as pivotal factors for fostering development and generating prosperity within the region. What truly distinguishes this endeavor is the remarkable determination and unwavering commitment demonstrated by these youth."
Charles Nash M'back, Stabilization Program Manager, UNDP's Chad.
In Mali, the queen of noni aims to inspire the youth
Every day, Safoura Cissé, a Malian agro-entrepreneur, demonstrates unwavering determination and commitment. Situated on the fringes of Ségou, approximately 240 kilometers east of Bamako, this young woman embarked on a journey in 2019, venturing into the production, transformation, and commercialization of noni. The noni plant yields fruits renowned for their numerous health and wellness benefits.
In 2021, the 26-year-old entrepreneur received a seed fund amounting to USD2,500, which is equivalent to nearly 1,500,000 CFA francs, through the "Youth Entrepreneurship" program led by the UNDP and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). Since 2020, this initiative has aimed to empower 10,000 young individuals through capacity-building in entrepreneurship, financial support for startup ventures to create or strengthen innovative businesses, assistance for community-led enterprises, and individual mentorship to facilitate the growth of their enterprises. The program specifically targets 40% of young women.
Bolstered by this support, Safoura established a small processing and packaging unit, to produce noni juice and powder.
"Our aspiration is to ameliorate the prevailing food and nutritional predicaments plaguing our communities. Entrepreneurship allows us to emancipate ourselves, succeed, and have a significant social impact on the population," asserts Safoura. Since 2012, Mali has been grappling with a multidimensional crisis that has had severe consequences on the food and nutritional situation.
However, like many Malians, Safoura remains hopeful, firmly believing that the country will experience brighter days ahead, primarily through the strength of its youth.
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