A turning point takes shape in Abidjan as young Ivorians get a direct line to jobs and funding
Something is shifting in Abidjan, and it is happening over the course of just two days. On 21 and 22 September 2026, the World Bank Group will open the doors of the Patinoire at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire for an event designed to put young Ivorians face to face with the education, training, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities that already exist in Côte d’Ivoire — but too often stay out of reach. This is the moment the conversation moves from waiting to acting.
Two days that could redirect a career
The Open Days are built around a simple idea: instead of leaving young people to hunt for information on their own, the programmes, projects and financing windows come to them. Students still deciding on a direction, fresh graduates chasing a first job, project holders, startup founders and young professionals will all find room to talk directly with the experts behind these initiatives.
Who should be in the room
The doors are meant to be wide open. Whether you are finishing your studies, holding a diploma with no contract yet, testing a business idea, or already a few years into your professional life, the event is structured so that each profile finds something usable.
The themes on the table
Discussions will travel across several fronts: education and training, employment and entry into the workforce, entrepreneurship and innovation, and finally infrastructure projects and local development. Each strand connects to real programmes rather than abstract promises.
Experts, founders and unfiltered stories
Specialists from the different programmes will be on hand to explain, in practical terms, what it takes to qualify for training schemes and support mechanisms. Entrepreneurs will also take the floor to share how they built their ventures — the wins, certainly, but also the obstacles and doubts they had to work through. That honest side of the conversation is often what makes the difference for someone hesitating at the starting line.
Leaving with leads, not leaflets
The ambition behind these two days is straightforward: that every visitor walks out with concrete information and clear next steps. Applying to a programme, pushing a project forward, finding a mentoring structure, or simply widening a professional network — those are the outcomes the organisers are aiming for.
Free entry, no registration, Patinoire du Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire
There is no barrier to entry. The event takes place at the Patinoire of the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire, access is free of charge, and no advance sign-up is needed. You can simply show up.
The bigger picture behind the two-day push
Beyond the immediate encounters, the Open Days also give the wider public a clearer view of how international investments feed into Côte d’Ivoire’s development priorities — particularly in training, skills building and the professional integration of young people. Seen that way, the event is less a one-off gathering and more a marker of where the country’s youth strategy is heading next.
