JA Africa and the Z Zurich Foundation have launched a multi-country youth empowerment initiative to equip over 20,000 young people across Francophone Africa with essential entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work-readiness skills.
Junior Achievement Africa (JA Africa) and the Z Zurich Foundation have launched a multi-year partnership designed to equip more than 20,000 young people across Francophone Africa with essential entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work-readiness skills.
The initiative expands JA Africa’s youth development programming across key French-speaking nations in the region including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.
By focusing on practical education and hands-on skill development, the program aims to address the high rates of youth unemployment and underemployment across West and Central Africa by preparing young people to create their own business ventures or secure formal employment.
The comprehensive training framework blends classroom learning, digital skill modules, and direct mentorship from industry professionals and corporate volunteers.
Through structured learning tracks, participants gain direct experience in building business models, managing personal and corporate finances, evaluating market risks and utilizing digital tools to scale small enterprises. The program places a strong emphasis on fostering resilience and problem-solving mindsets, enabling young entrepreneurs to launch sustainable micro-enterprises that can adapt to changing local economic conditions.
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By expanding access to practical business education, the alliance addresses a critical gap in traditional academic curricula across Francophone Africa, where formal job markets often struggle to absorb the growing population of young school graduates.
Leadership from JA Africa and the Z Zurich Foundation emphasized that investing in youth entrepreneurship builds long-term economic self-reliance for local communities. By giving young men and women the tools to establish viable businesses, manage financial risks and generate income, the initiative aims to drive grassroots economic mobility and build resilient local economies across the continent.
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