At the opening ceremony marking the presentation of the Integrated National Programme for the Promotion of Inclusive Employment (PNIIPEI) on May 29, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Employment, Social Protection and Vocational Training, Adama Kamara, called on the private sector as well as technical and financial partners to support this initiative aimed at improving the quality of employment opportunities.

“I would like to make a solemn appeal to the private sector and to our technical and financial partners to support the government in the implementation of this inclusive programme, which seeks to significantly enhance the quality of employment opportunities,” Adama Kamara said.

Despite the numerous measures undertaken by the government, the situation of vulnerable groups in the labour market remains a major concern. People aged over 40 account for around 40% of the working-age population, representing more than six million individuals. Persons with disabilities number approximately 500,000 nationwide.

According to Minister Kamara, this ambitious programme, backed by an investment exceeding CFA100 billion, is expected to generate more than 600,000 decent, inclusive and sustainable jobs. He described it as an integrated government response to the challenges of employment and the socio-professional integration of vulnerable populations.

The formulation of the programme aligns closely with the implementation of one of the key recommendations contained in the World Bank report entitled “Facilitating Job Creation: Towards the Operationalisation of a New Evidence-Based Inclusive Employment Agenda.”

Kamara stressed that the PNIIPEI, which is designed to benefit women, persons with disabilities and individuals over the age of 40, “must not remain another paper-based project struggling to move beyond the planning stage.” Instead, he said, it should become a powerful driver of change capable of positively transforming the lives of citizens and strengthening social inclusion across the country.