2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

The Vacances Éducatives et de la Formation Professionnelle (VEFP) is an initiative of the Khombole Town Council, in collaboration with Human Resources Advising (HRA), aimed at boosting the employability of young people and promoting their integration into the workforce. The program is part of Axis 1 of the strategic plan “Khombole sur orbite, un laboratoire de développement local”, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) and the African Union's Agenda 2063.

The main objective of VEFP is to strengthen young people's professional skills in order to improve their employability. The program develops practical skills adapted to the demands of the job market, and raises participants' awareness of entrepreneurship. It also encourages personal development and the mastery of new technologies.

The implementation of VEFP is based on a structured and inclusive process. It begins with an identification of the needs of young people and the job market, in order to propose suitable training courses. At the end of the program, an evaluation report is drawn up to measure the impact of the training. Post-training follow-up is also provided, notably through the Bureau d'Assistance à l'Insertion Professionnelle (BAIP), to support beneficiaries in their integration into the job market.

Since their launch, VEFPs have benefited over 80 young people, including students, recent graduates, jobseekers and entrepreneurs. The program has boosted their self-confidence and improved their employment prospects. A strong representation of women among the participants testifies to the inclusiveness of the program, which mainly reaches the 15-25 age bracket. In addition, the initiative has fostered local leadership development and involved young people from all parts of Khombole and beyond.

One of the strengths of VEFP lies in its sustainability. Integrated into the strategic plan “Khombole sur orbite, un laboratoire de développement local”, they are now a recurring program of the municipality, demonstrating a lasting commitment to training and education. The initiative is inspiring other communities to consider adopting a similar model, reinforcing its impact and replicability.

https://mairiedekhombole.sn/ (External link)

Further information: https: //www.oidp.net/docs/repo/doc1622.PDF (External link)