West Africa is a very young region: nearly half of its population is under the age of 20. Yet, young people’s dreams and aspirations remain poorly understood. This lack of data is particularly problematic given the significant challenges many of them face: some grow up in marginalized urban peripheries, while others live in border regions shaped by migration dynamics and security tensions. As they enter the labour market, young people are often confronted with a severe shortage of formal employment; at the same time, the impacts of climate change and the deterioration of public services affect their daily lives.

In this context, examining these aspirations is especially relevant, as the role of formal education in pathways to success is sometimes questioned, and young people are increasingly challenging the “dominant models” of success. As supporting youth is a key priority for AFD Group, it is important that its interventions be grounded in a deep understanding of the aspirations of the youth.

This research project listens to young people in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal to deepen understanding of their aspirations, models of success and life trajectories. More specifically, it seeks to answer three key questions:

1. What are young people’s aspirations, given the range of possibilities available to them, and how do these vary according to their place of residence, gender, and living conditions? 
2. To what extent do their individual and family life trajectories shape their plans and their ability to achieve them? 
3. What role does education play in their aspirations and life paths?

The data collected is intended for direct operational use: it will help adapt AFD Group interventions in the areas of education, training, and decent employment.

The research team, led by the Institute for Education, Family, Health and Gender (IEFSG) at Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor, brings together Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University (Côte d’Ivoire), Félix Houphouët-Boigny University (Côte d’Ivoire), IRD (France), and the University of Ottawa (Canada).

The IEFSG and the two Ivorian universities designed the survey methodology and will implement it with the support of their doctoral students across three main types of territories selected for their diversity:

• Urban areas (Ouakam and Pikine in Senegal; Yopougon and Abobo in Côte d’Ivoire) 
• Border areas (Sindian and Samine in Senegal; Bouna and Ouangolo in Côte d’Ivoire) 
• “Symbolic spaces” with strong community or religious identities (Touba in Senegal; “New Churches” communities in Côte d’Ivoire)

The methodology combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches:

• Qualitative survey: mapping of socio-educational services and youth support systems (interviews with local stakeholders and authorities, in situ observations); organization of focus groups with young people; in-depth individual interviews on their life trajectories. 
• Quantitative survey: conducted with 3,000 young people in each of the two countries, based on the 2023 national census in Senegal and the 2021 census in Côte d'Ivoire. The questionnaire will be administered using the KoboCollect application.

The results of this research project will be disseminated through several formats in order to reach a wide range of audiences:

1. A collective publication or a contribution to a scientific journal, focused on Africa, will present the main findings of the surveys and consolidate the knowledge produced on young people and their aspirations. 
2. Decision-support tools (policy briefs, guidance notes, etc.) will target policymakers and development practitioners. 
3. The possibility of additional formats (podcasts, creations) will be explored to share the collected life stories beyond academic circles.

A final restitution event will also be organized.

• Elodie RICHE, Research Officer at AFD
• Pr Jean-Alain Goudiaby, Sociologist at IEFSG

Since achieving peace in the early 1990s, Cambodia has undergone rapid economic growth driven by the garment, tourism, and construction sectors. The country is expected to graduate from least developed country status by 2030. This shift from agriculture to manufacturing has led not to more jobs, but to different ones, increasingly formal and urban, contributing to poverty reduction, while also deepening Cambodia’s dependence on fossil fuels and imported electricity.

To sustain growth while pursuing its climate ambitions, the Royal Government of Cambodia has outlined clear strategies for a low-carbon transition. This transformation, however, also brings new macroeconomic and fiscal challenges, against the backdrop of rising energy demand, external trade vulnerabilities, and pressures on public finances. Understanding these challenges and how they interact is essential to design a feasible and financially viable strategy for the energy transition.

The ESTEEM Cambodia project supports the Cambodian government in preparing a feasible and financially viable strategy for the country’s energy transition. Through macro-economic modelling activities, it aims to:

1. Identify macroeconomic risks that could arise during the shift to cleaner energy, such as on public debt, employment, income inequality and monetary stability.
2. Explore how different energy scenarios interact with the overall economy.

To achieve this, research teams based in Paris and in Phnom Penh are designing a macroeconomic model tailored to Cambodia’s economy. They are working closely with key ministries to make sure the model becomes an effective tool for strategic planning.  This will help policymakers, especially the Ministry of Economy and Finance, make informed decisions and design a long-term strategy towards carbon neutrality.

The ESTEEM Cambodia project marks the second phase of a collaboration between the Royal Government of Cambodia and AFD. It builds on the results of a first phase, which created a user-friendly energy model called CEPIA, designed for the Cambodian energy sector. Developed with iED Consult for the Ministry of Mines and Energy, CEPIA produced four energy scenarios based on the Royal Government’s development and climate action plans. 

In phase 2, CEPIA will be linked to the ESTEEM model, in order to study the macroeconomic impacts of the four energy scenarios and connect them with broader socio-economic goals (GDP growth, investment, job creation…).

The project is carried out jointly by AFD researchers, Université Grenoble Alpes, and iED Consult, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Key members from various local ministries are actively involved in the development of the model, as well as in workshops and training activities, helping to build local expertise in macroeconomic modelling.

The project will result in:

• An ESTEEM macroeconomic model adapted to Cambodia, incorporating the energy scenarios from the CEPIA model developed during Phase I.
• A set of simulations analyzing the macroeconomic implications of Cambodia’s four energy transition scenarios.
• An interactive tool that can be used by government officials to simulate different scenarios and policies, particularly related to the energy transition.

Download the brochure

• Guilherme MAGACHO, AFD
• Isabelle FERAUDO, Université Grenoble Alpes
• Gaëlle LE TREUT, AFD
• Seav Er HUY, AFD Phnom Penh
• Somalyneth SARBOEUN, AFD Phnom Penh