New large-scale employment plan with more internshipsIt works - Senegal
For several years now, CNV Internationaal’s programme in Senegal has focused on a new large-scale employment plan with more internships to improve youth employability. This has resulted in the conclusion of new national agreement that has a much wider approach.
Six programmes have been adjusted to guide 40,000 young people to an internship. It’s difficult for young people in Senegal to find work after they complete their education. One reason has been that the education system doesn’t align with the needs of the labour market. The last national plan for employability was unsuccessful. Since 2000, only 5000 young people have worked at an internship.
“A combination of research, training, lobbying, and advocacy activities have contributed to the creation of a new national employability agreement which contains internship opportunities for 40,000 young graduates,”
Mariama Diallo, the young General Secretary of our partner union UDTS
CNV Internationaal has been supporting the UDTS union in initiating a process for getting this employability plan off the ground.
“A combination of research, training, lobbying, and advocacy activities have contributed to the creation of a new national employability agreement which contains internship opportunities for 40,000 young graduates,” says Mariama Diallo, the young General Secretary of our partner union UDTS.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Important differences are that more parties are now involved and independent entrepreneurship is part of the plan. Entrepreneurship is especially important because many young people eventually find work in the informal economy
“The coming years, we as UDTS will be making the advantages of this new employability plan more widely known".
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This will allow more youth and companies to participate in the plan. Further, we will support the youth by informing them about entrepreneurial culture and how to get started as an independent business owner.”
Vera de Man of CNV Youth worked together with West- African youth to put employability on the agenda at the conference of African trade unions (blog 2019)
This video provides more information on the youth of Senegal. It features Tijmen Roosenboom, the Dutch Ambassador for Youth, Education, and Work for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
New large-scale employment plan with more internshipsPublication date 17 11 2021
Senegal: Enabling youth to enrol in skills for job training