Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko officially launched the ambitious 1,000 Agricultural Volunteers Program on Friday in Thiès, marking a major milestone in rallying young people to contribute to the country’s development priorities.
This pioneering initiative is set to focus initially on agriculture before expanding into other key sectors.
At the launch ceremony, Sonko unveiled plans to establish Africa’s largest employability transformation center in Senegal, a facility designed to empower youth with skills and opportunities to drive economic growth. He welcomed the first group of volunteers as essential agents of change, describing them as “relays for the State, facilitators of change and models of a youth mobilized in the service of the nation.”
Highlighting the strategic shift in policy, Sonko noted that the National Civic Service and Volunteering programs have been repositioned under the direct authority of the Prime Minister’s Office. “The aim is to make them a central lever for implementing public development policies,” he explained, signalling a more coordinated approach to harnessing youth energy in national progress.
Though agriculture remains the immediate focus, the program is envisioned to broaden its reach across a spectrum of strategic sectors including trade, health, education, culture, environment, digital technology, civil protection, and crafts. This expansion underscores the government’s commitment to inclusive development and the creation of sustainable employment avenues for young Senegalese.
By mobilising youth volunteers in agriculture and beyond, the program seeks to address both unemployment and sectoral development challenges, reflecting a forward-looking strategy to tap into the country’s demographic dividend. With the support of the largest employability center on the continent, Senegal aims to transform its youth into catalysts for national renewal and economic resilience.
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