An ambitious pilot project, designed to equip young people with digital skills and stimulate green innovation , has been launched in Côte d'Ivoire. This initiative, called the Genie program, began with the inauguration of an eco-digital center at the University of Bondoukou on December 10.

💰 A Strategic Partnership for the Future

This large-scale program is the result of a collaboration between the State of Côte d'Ivoire, the Korea International Cooperation Agency ( KOICA ) and the Global Green Growth Institute ( GGGI ).

1. Funding: The project has a budget of US$9.15 million (over 5.5 billion CFA francs).
2. Period: It will run from June 2024 to November 2027 .
3. Training Objective: The initiative aims to train more than 45,000 young people , including nearly 33,000 pupils and students, as well as 675 green entrepreneurs .

🎙️ Commitments and Challenges

During the opening ceremony, key stakeholders emphasized the importance of this center.

"All measures will be taken to ensure optimal and rigorous management of the project," assured Prof. Ouattara Djakalia , president of the University of Bondoukou, guaranteeing the proper conduct of the program.

Olola Vieyra , country representative of the GGGI, emphasized the strategic importance of the project:

"This project is part of a global chain that stimulates the development and access of students to the tools for reflection to promote green entrepreneurship." She reaffirmed the Gggi's commitment to supporting sectors related to the environment, sustainable development and renewable energies.

🎯 The Three Pillars of the Program

The project is structured around three fundamental axes to achieve its objectives:

1. Access and Training: Improving access to digital infrastructure and training.
2. Green Entrepreneurship: Supporting the creation of ecological businesses through the Green Preneurs program.
3. Sustainable Leadership: Strengthening sustainable management capabilities through a specialized academy.

🗺️ National Deployment

The Bondoukou center is just the first step. Ultimately, 35 Genie centers are planned to be deployed across the entire national territory, marking a key step in the country's digital and ecological transition.