N’Djamena’s city council, in collaboration with Chad’s National Employment Promotion Office (ONAPE), inaugurated a transformative initiative this week to integrate 200 young adults into sustainable agriculture roles. The launch event, part of the Green Jobs Youth Integration Project (PROJEV), took place this past Wednesday at the Kuweïte space in Farcha’s first district.

bridging unemployment and ecological progress

Mahamat Alhafiz Idriss, head of ONAPE’s agricultural credit division, emphasized that the program’s core mission is to equip young participants with both technical skills and financial tools to launch viable income-generating ventures. Djamal Moussa Yaya, mayor of the first district, praised the inter-institutional collaboration as a decisive step toward addressing persistent youth unemployment in the capital.

a national challenge on the local front

Nassouradine Abakar Kessou, ONAPE’s director general, highlighted Chad’s pressing youth employment crisis, despite the country’s abundant agricultural potential. “While our youth represent the future, their talents remain underutilized,” he noted. “By channeling their energy into green professions, we can simultaneously reduce unemployment and fortify our environmental resilience.”

local strategy meets youth ambition

Seid Adji Seid, deputy chief of cabinet for N’Djamena’s mayoral office, outlined how the city’s MIDI plan—anchored in five pillars: civic education, vocational training, business incubation, urban agriculture, and creative industries—serves as a tangible response to young residents’ aspirations for dignified livelihoods.

Addressing the newly trained cohort, he declared, “Today marks your transformation from job seekers into ecological change-makers. The green careers you are entering are not temporary solutions; they are the foundation of an economy that harmonizes prosperity, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.”

Upon completing their technical training, the 200 participants will cultivate a ten-hectare plot, where they will apply their expertise in sustainable farming practices.