Despite an economic recovery in the years following the Côte d'Ivoire post-electoral crisis of 2010-11, unemployment has increased and poverty rates remain high. Young people (ages 14-35) experience the highest levels of joblessness and poverty, exacerbating their social exclusion and creating a roadblock to social cohesion and security. In 2014, the local government implemented the Civic Action Service for Employment and Development (SCAED) program to foster social and economic inclusion in at-risk youths. However, its effectiveness was unproven until a team of local PEP researchers conducted a randomized control trial. They found that the SCAED effectively improves soft skills to promote social cohesion among male youth. The program, however, fails to meet the needs of young women. Find out more about the research methods, findings and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications:
