Chad’s ONAPE Pioneers Regional Training to Tackle Africa’s Youth Employment Crisis

Analysis: A landmark capacity-building initiative in N’Djamena signals a strategic shift towards professionalized labor market intermediation across Central and West Africa.

NDJAMENA – A specialized training program launched this week in Chad represents more than a routine workshop; it is a microcosm of the strategic challenges facing African economies. The National Office for Employment Promotion (ONAPE), in collaboration with the African Association of Public Employment Services (ASSEP), has convened 50 employment advisors from across the region for an intensive 18-day session focused on modern labor market intermediation.

Beyond Job Matching: Building a Professional Corps

The initiative, themed around “One Youth, One Qualification, One Job,” moves beyond the traditional administrative role of public employment services. According to statements made at the Hôtel de l’Amitié launch, the core objective is to transform advisors into skilled diagnosticians of employability. This reflects a growing consensus, articulated by ASSEP Vice-President and ONAPE Director General Nassouradine Abakar Kessou, that “no government can effectively meet the employment challenge without competent, committed, and recognized advisors.”

Experts view this as a critical acknowledgment. In economies where informal work dominates and educational systems often lag behind market needs, the quality of career guidance can be a decisive factor in economic mobility. The training’s curriculum—covering interview techniques, skills identification, and employer psychology—aims to equip advisors to navigate this complex landscape.

A “Country-Specific” Model for Regional Impact

A significant aspect of this session is its design. It is noted as the first “country-specific” program in ASSEP’s history, developed directly in response to ONAPE’s identified needs. This tailored approach, requested by a national service rather than imposed by a regional body, could set a new precedent for effective technical cooperation in Africa.

The participation of professionals from Mali, Cameroon, Togo, and Benin alongside Chadian advisors creates a dual benefit: it builds a network of similarly trained personnel across borders while allowing for the exchange of context-specific strategies for tackling youth unemployment, a pervasive issue throughout the Sahel and Central Africa.

The “So What”: Why Professionalized Advising Matters

The launch speeches highlighted a fundamental economic truth often overlooked. As Sidibé Brahima Noumbary, Director General of Mali’s ANPE, stated, advisors must “understand the evolution of the labor market to provide relevant and effective support.” In practice, this means:

• Reducing Skills Mismatch: Effective advisors can identify transferable skills in job seekers and pinpoint emerging sectors for employers, acting as a crucial feedback loop between education and industry.
• Enhancing Formalization: By building trust and providing value to both small businesses and job seekers, professional public services can help draw economic activity into the formal sector, broadening the tax base and improving labor protections.
• Maximizing Investment: As DG Kessou argued, “good guidance can be as valuable as funding.” For governments and donors investing in vocational training or job creation schemes, skilled advisors are essential for ensuring those investments yield actual placements and sustainable careers.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

While the training is a positive step, its long-term success will depend on systemic support. Employment advisors need access to real-time labor market data, digital tools for matching, and career paths that retain talent within the public service. The true test will be whether this pilot program leads to sustained investment in the professional development of frontline staff and measurable improvements in job placement rates.

The ONAPE-led initiative underscores a strategic pivot: confronting Africa’s employment crisis requires not just macroeconomic policies or infrastructure projects, but also investing in the human infrastructure—the counselors, analysts, and intermediaries—who connect people to opportunity.

Primary Source & Attribution: This report is based on information from an original article published by Tchadanthropus-tribune, titled “CHAD: ONAPE Launches Training Program for Employment Advisors to Strengthen Their Capabilities.” Read the full original report here (Source).