ABIDJAN

Côte d’Ivoire has launched a 4.3 billion CFA franc ($7.7 million) fund to finance projects led by youth organizations, offering grants of up to 50 million CFA francs ($89,000) as the government seeks to strengthen young people’s role in community development.

The government officially launched the call for proposals for the Youth Organizations Support Fund, known by its French acronym FAOJ, on Monday in Abidjan.

Minister of State Anne Désirée Ouloto, who oversees the civil service and government modernization, launched the initiative on behalf of Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé.

Youth Promotion, Professional Integration and Civic Service Minister Mamadou Touré, representatives of youth organizations and government officials also attended.

The fund is intended to finance youth-led initiatives while strengthening the governance of youth organizations, promoting gender equity, supporting peace and social cohesion and encouraging social innovation.

Government officials said the fund will operate according to four principles, neutrality, transparency, accountability and performance.

Associations, federations, youth organizations and organizations that work with young people can apply.

Applicants must meet eligibility requirements that include having at least two years of legal existence, up-to-date statutes and activity reports and a bank account in the organization’s name. They also must not be subject to any current sanctions.

Projects can be submitted in 17 areas, including community action, volunteering, leadership, education, health, sports, arts and culture, the environment, local development and social innovation.

Funding will be divided into three categories. Grants will range from 500,000 to 3 million CFA francs (about $890 to $5,400), 3 million to 15 million CFA francs (about $5,400 to $27,000), and 15 million to 50 million CFA francs (about $27,000 to $89,000).

Applications can be submitted online at https://www.faoj.ci or through designated government services and local offices.

Ibrahima Diabaté, president of the National Youth Council of Côte d’Ivoire, said the fund fulfills a proposal that emerged from the country’s 2025 National Youth Consultations.

He called for its funding to be increased to 10 billion CFA francs (about $17.9 million) next year.

Touré described the fund as a major step forward for youth organizations, saying it would provide a neutral financing mechanism based on the quality of projects and help organizations become more autonomous.

Ouloto described the fund as a demonstration of the government’s confidence in young people and urged organizations to submit serious and ambitious projects capable of addressing the needs of communities.