The birthrate remains high in the G5 Sahel countries (Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad) while life expectancy is increasing. Without a widespread decline in the fertility rate, these countries will not be able to take advantage of this demographic dividend. Creating economic opportunities for young people and improving their access to education and to quality training, adapted to market requirements, are therefore the Sahel Alliance’s priorities.

The objectives to be achieved in this sector are as follows:

• Generalizing the development of young people’s elementary skills by ensuring their complete schooling in quality basic education (primary and secondary) and by reducing geographical, social and gender-based disparities
• Heavily developing training for young people that is adapted to the labor market, structuring of economies and development policies, for the rural world in particular
• Facilitating employment for young people, in particular for the most vulnerable, by helping support mechanisms geared towards employment, job-creation schemes, self-employment and activities that generate income