• Côte d'Ivoire has signed a partnership with French Tech Abidjan to align technical education with the needs of the country's growing digital economy.
• Startups will help shape curricula, expand internships and apprenticeships, modernize training facilities and promote women's participation in technology.
• The initiative supports the country's broader digital transformation strategy as demand for digital skills accelerates across sub-Saharan Africa.

Côte d'Ivoire has moved to align its technical and vocational education system more closely with the needs of the digital economy by bringing startups into the design of training programs and workforce development initiatives.

The Ivorian government signed an Industry–Technical and Vocational Education Pact (PIETP) with French Tech Abidjan last week. The agreement will involve startups in defining the skills that innovative companies require. The initiative aims to narrow the gap between technical education curricula and the needs of the country's rapidly expanding technology ecosystem.

Under the agreement, startups will contribute to updating training programs to better match demand for digital occupations, particularly in data science, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The pact also commits startups to supporting the modernization of educational infrastructure, expanding internships, apprenticeships and mentoring programs, and promoting initiatives that encourage more young women to pursue technology-related fields.

In addition, the agreement establishes a permanent consultation framework between innovative companies and vocational training institutions.

The initiative comes as Côte d'Ivoire seeks to strengthen its human capital to support its national digital transformation agenda. In recent years, the country has launched several initiatives to foster innovation, including the adoption of the Startup Act in 2023, the expansion of digital infrastructure, the gradual reduction in internet access costs and the continued growth of technology incubators.

The expansion of French Tech Abidjan reflects that momentum. Established in 2015 with only a handful of companies, the community now brings together 75 technology firms operating across fintech, cloud services, cybersecurity, data analytics, artificial intelligence and education technology. Its members include many of the leading digital innovation companies operating in Côte d'Ivoire.

The initiative also addresses a broader regional challenge. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030, while demand will continue to increase across virtually every sector of the economy.

By strengthening collaboration between educational institutions and innovative companies, Côte d'Ivoire aims to anticipate labor market needs in fields where expertise in data science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and software development remains among the most sought-after skills.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum