Youth Employment Pact

Youth unemployment in Cameroon represents a critical challenge. Three main obstacles have been identified:

1. Limited economic fabric: a restricted economic base producing insufficient job opportunities;
2. Training-employment mismatch: a divergence between employer demands for immediate productivity and educational systems not aligned with market needs;
3. Underutilized potential: insufficiently developed job creation and self-employment opportunities.

Approximately 70% of young people entering the job market lack formal vocational qualifications. Public employment, historically a social safety valve, no longer absorbs youth at the same rate.

PEJ aims to:

• Reduce youth unemployment through comprehensive and structured support;
• Train young people in modern job search techniques;
• Develop professional skills and youth employability;
• Facilitate networking between young job seekers and partner companies;
• Promote self-employment and entrepreneurship as alternatives to wage employment.

PEJ targets:

• Young job seekers registered with FNE;
• Young people without qualifications or with insufficient qualifications;
• First-time job seekers without professional experience;
• Young people in long-term unemployment situations;
• Young people wishing to create their own activity.

PEJ relies on several complementary mechanisms:

1. Career guidance
Skills assessment, identification of professional aptitudes and aspirations, development of a personalized professional project.

2. Job search technique training (TRE)
Practical training in CV and cover letter writing, interview preparation, use of digital job search tools.

3. Networking
Matching youth profiles with job offers from partner companies, organizing employment forums and meetings.

4. Self-employment support
Support for young people wishing to create their own activity: project formalization assistance, guidance toward financing mechanisms.

PEJ is financed by the National Employment Fund as part of the Cameroonian state budget. All services offered to young job seekers are completely free.

For young people:

• Personalized and professional support in job searching;
• Acquisition of practical and transferable skills;
• Direct access to partner company job offers;
• Business creation support;
• 100% free services.

For employers:

• Access to a pool of motivated and prepared young people;
• Reduced recruitment costs and timelines;
• Contribution to national human capital development.

For Cameroon:

• Reduction in youth unemployment rates;
• Strengthening of the economic and social fabric;
• Prevention of risks associated with prolonged youth unemployment.