On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Abidjan, UNICEF Côte d’Ivoire and the Maarif Foundation of Türkiye signed a strategic partnership focused on girls’ education and digital innovation.

Through the signing of a memorandum of understanding, the two institutions are joining efforts to transform the Ivorian educational landscape, emphasizing access to technology and the inclusion of young girls.

This partnership, the result of 12 months of negotiations, aims to provide concrete opportunities for children and adolescents, especially the most vulnerable, by combining the humanitarian expertise of the UN agency with the educational network of the Turkish institution. A major pillar of the agreement is reducing the gender gap in education.

Jean-François Basse, UNICEF Côte d’Ivoire’s Resident Representative, highlighted the shared goal of steering more young girls toward STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), sectors where they remain underrepresented.

“This protocol is an opportunity to emphasize girls’ participation in areas that are not traditionally theirs,” said Mr. Basse, noting that this strategy aligns directly with the national priorities of the Ivorian government.

The second key focus is civic engagement through the U-Report platform. With a network of over 3 million members in Côte d’Ivoire, this tool will be used jointly to promote civic values, even in the most remote areas. The goal is to empower young people as active agents of change and bring their concerns into the heart of public debate.

Meanwhile, Coşkun Yılmaz, representative and director of the Maarif Foundation, welcomed the realization of this project, which was first initiated during a technology festival last year.

“By combining our strength with that of UNICEF, we will bring tangible benefits to the Ivorian community, particularly for children and girls,” he said.

The partnership also includes support for large-scale educational events, such as Science Day and Girls’ Day, while developing practical training programs to enhance the employability of vulnerable adolescents.

By building this bridge between institutions, UNICEF and the Maarif Foundation aim to turn Côte d’Ivoire’s educational ambitions into tangible realities for hundreds of thousands of young girls and boys across the country.