Côte d’Ivoire marked International Youth Day on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at the Abidjan Exhibition Centre during the second edition of the country’s National Youth Consultations.
Organized by the Ministry of Youth Promotion, Professional Integration and Civic Service under the leadership of Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, the event gave young people an opportunity to present their concerns and put forward proposals aimed at shaping public policy.
Held under the theme “Different realities, common aspirations,” the event featured the results of consultations conducted across Côte d’Ivoire’s 31 regions in 2026.
Three major priorities emerged from the discussions: tackling drug and addictive substance use, promoting responsible use of social media, and addressing the opportunities and challenges linked to artificial intelligence.
Young people called for stronger prevention of addiction in schools, increased efforts to combat cybercrime, greater digital education and wider access to new technologies.
The initiative builds on the country’s first national youth consultations. Ibrahima Diabaté, president of the National Youth Council of Côte d’Ivoire, said 86% of the concerns raised in 2025 have so far been addressed.
Among the measures highlighted were the creation of a support fund for youth organizations, the institutionalization of national youth consultations, the construction of universities across the country’s districts, expanded internship programmes, greater inclusion of people with disabilities and increased support for entrepreneurship.
Prime Minister Beugré Mambé said the concerns expressed by young people reflected a broader desire for dignity, equality, participation and trust.
“The government will do its part through a simple method: listen, act, report and verify,” he said.
The prime minister also instructed Youth Minister Mamadou Touré to ensure transparency in the implementation of the Support Fund for Youth Organizations. He called for project calls, eligibility criteria and selection procedures to be published before funds are allocated.
Mambé also urged young people to submit serious projects that respond to community needs and whose results can be measured.
Youth Minister Mamadou Touré said the first national consultation had identified nearly 70 concerns, which were compiled in a white paper. The 2026 consultations were used to assess progress while identifying new expectations among young people.
The government’s Youth Programme for 2026-2030 aims to reach 5.3 million young people by 2030, according to Touré.
The government has also allocated 4.3 billion CFA francs to support activities carried out by youth organizations.
The consultations come as Côte d’Ivoire seeks to strengthen youth participation in public policy while preparing a rapidly growing young population for the challenges of digitalization, artificial intelligence and employment.