IMAJE: Supporting youth participation in Senegal's green economy
Together with the Fondation Paul-Gérin Lajoie (initiative leader) and Crossroads International, we are launching the Multisectoral Initiative for the Future of Youth in the Green Economy. Global Affairs Canada is funding this initiative, which aims to strengthen the socioeconomic empowerment of young people—particularly young women—in Senegal’s Tambacounda and Kédougou regions.
This initiative is running from 2025 to 2030 and tackles the key challenges facing youth in Senegal, including unemployment, gender inequality, vulnerability to climate change and limited access to sustainable economic opportunities.
A transformative project driving the shift to a green economy
The initiative brings together local and international partners to position youth as key players in the transition to a green, inclusive and climate-resilient economy.
This initiative focuses on three strategic priorities:
- Expand access to educational paths and technical and professional training tailored to the needs of young people and communities, promoting green skills, social cohesion and gender equality.
- Strengthen the economic viability and climate resilience of youth-led entrepreneurial initiatives, with a particular focus on initiatives led by young women.
- Create better conditions in the workplace, in institutions and in the community so that young people have an equal chance to take part in building a greener future.
Over the five-year period, the project will support more than 43,000 direct beneficiaries, including nearly 21,500 women, as they pursue long-term professional, economic and social integration.
This partnership demonstrates the strength of international cooperation and shows how a multisector, impact-driven approach can create lasting opportunities for young people, reduce gender inequalities and foster sustainable economic growth aligned with green economy and climate resilience principles.
About our partners
Fondation Paul-Gérin Lajoie (FPGL)
The Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie is a Canadian philanthropic organization dedicated to education and the empowerment of populations in vulnerable positions. It works to promote access to quality, equitable, and inclusive education, particularly for young people and women, and to support sustainable solutions for international socioeconomic development. As the lead organization of the Multisectoral Initiative for the Future of Youth in the Green Economy consortium, FPGL mobilizes local and international partners to provide a better economic outlook for young people in Senegal.
Crossroads International (CI)
Crossroads International is an international cooperation organization that has been fighting inequality and poverty for over 60 years, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. CI focuses on the rights, leadership and empowerment of women and youth by promoting inclusive and equitable approaches. Its expertise in advancing gender equality and socioeconomic development strengthens the impact of the Multisectoral Initiative for the Future of Youth in the Green Economy in Senegal.