UPF-Côte d’Ivoire Partners with Tourism Council to Train Youth

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire –The Federation of Tourism Industry of Côte d’Ivoire (FENITOURCI) and UPF-Côte d’Ivoire signed a partnership agreement on May 16, 2026, at the headquarters of the National Tourism Council, aimed at training 16,080 young people in tourism-related professions, while simultaneously promoting values of peace and social cohesion.

The initiative, which will be deployed across all 201 communes of Côte d’Ivoire, seeks to train and support the professional integration of 80 young graduates per commune in the fields of tourism, hospitality and catering. Through this large-scale program, both institutions aim to position tourism as a strategic sector for youth employment, national development and sustainable peacebuilding.

At the core of the project is the Ivorian Tourism Scholarship for Peace, through which FENITOURCI intends to transform the tourism industry into a driver of social stability, community cohesion and economic opportunity nationwide. The program is designed not only to provide technical skills but also to strengthen employability and entrepreneurship among young people.

UPF-Côte d’Ivoire will play a key role in integrating peace education into the training curriculum. This includes modules on ethical values, character education, cooperation and the culture of living for the sake of others. The objective is to shape a new generation of young professionals who will serve as ambassadors of social cohesion within their communities and workplaces, particularly in the tourism sector.

The partnership reflects a shared vision between these organizations to connect economic empowerment with peace education, positioning youth as central actors in building a more stable, united and prosperous nation.

By Kouakou Kouablan, Secretary General, UPF-Côte d'Ivoire May 16, 2026