Photo by RET au Niger, © RET Germany

RET Germany joined Youth Connekt Sahel 2026 in Niamey, engaging young people on skills, opportunity, and the future of the Sahel while spotlighting the CIGABA project’s work in Niger and Nigeria.

Article by Bouzou Lawel Fatima, Communications Officer, RET Germany in Niger

NIAMEY, NIGER – From August 10 to 12, 2026, Niamey hosted the 3rd edition of the YouthConnekt Sahel Forum, bringing together young people from 10 countries, alongside representatives of governments, regional institutions and technical and financial partners. For three days, the discussions focused on the same ambition, that of strengthening the place of young people in the construction of a sovereign, resilient, innovative and prosperous Sahel.

Sahelian youth is not lacking in ideas, ambition or willingness to act. But to turn this potential into sustainable prospects, you still need access to the skills, resources and opportunities that help build your future.

It is around this issue that the participants in the YouthConnekt Sahel 2026 met, organized under the theme “Sahelian youth at the heart of security and innovation for a sovereign, resilient and prosperous Sahel”. 

Photos by RET au Niger, © RET Germany

Leadership, innovation, digital, entrepreneurship, peace, social cohesion, security and employment: for three days, the discussions explored the different ways in which young people can take an active part in the economic and social transformations of the Sahel. The Forum also left room for action, in particular through learning spaces and a Hackathon to bring out and promote solutions led by young people. 

Skills, but above all prospects

For RET Germany, a partner of the Forum, this reflection is directly in line with a conviction that guides its interventions in favour of young people: developing skills is essential, but these skills must be able to open the way to real opportunities.

It is in this spirit that RET Germany presented at YouthConnekt Sahel the experience of the CIGABA project, implemented in the Maradi region in consortium with ASB, KARKARA and AB2M, with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

Through its employability component, CIGABA supports young people in several complementary dimensions: vocational training, entrepreneurship, professional integration and financial inclusion. 

• To learn more about the CIGABA project: https://theret.org/2025/04/ngr/official-launch-of-bmz-funded-cigaba-project-to-strengthen-livelihoods-and-food-security-in-niger-nigeria-border-region/

The objective is not to stop at training. It is also about helping young people to put their skills into practice, develop their initiatives and gradually gain access to economic opportunities.

Because behind each training, there is an ambition: to allow a young person to transform what he or she learns into a real possibility of advancement.

When young people’s priorities meet action

This approach is particularly reflected in the Niamey Declaration, adopted at the end of the Forum.

The priorities expressed by young people go far beyond the question of employment alone. They are structured around five main axes: peace, security and social cohesion; innovation and digital sovereignty; climate resilience and food security; employment, employability and entrepreneurship; Regional cooperation and Sahelian integration. 

In terms of employment and employability, their message is clear: strengthen access to vocational training, employment and entrepreneurship; better tailoring programs to market needs; bringing education systems closer to the realities of the world of work; and to promote the creation of enterprises, cooperatives and income-generating activities. 

These priorities are directly related to the issues that CIGABA seeks to address.

Above all, they remind us that young people are not only asking to be trained, they want to be able to use their skills, access opportunities and participate in the construction of solutions.

Photos by RET au Niger, © RET Germany

Ensuring young people’s voices are heard

Beyond the presentation of its activities, RET Germany wanted to make its space at the Forum a place of exchange.

Through the “Share your vision and inspire the next generation” initiative, visitors were invited to leave a piece of advice, encouragement or inspiration to the young beneficiaries of CIGABA. 

A simple gesture, but one that reminds us that the support of young people is not based solely on technical skills. Confidence, encouragement, access to inspiring role models and the opportunity to project oneself are also important.

From dialogue to action

The YouthConnekt Sahel 2026 ended on 12 August, but the priorities expressed in Niamey now call for continued action.

The Declaration invites States, regional institutions, development partners and private actors to mobilize around concrete, inclusive and sustainable solutions for youth. 

For RET Germany, this means continuing to build bridges between skills and opportunities, between training and integration, but also supporting young people so that they can develop their own solutions and contribute to the transformation of their communities.

Because the Sahelian youth is not only a bearer of hope for tomorrow, it is already an actor in today’s solutions.

• To learn more about our work in Niger: https://retgermany.org/niger/

About CIGABA

CIGABA is a BMZ-funded project implemented by RET in Niger and Nigeria. It works to strengthen youth livelihoods through:

• Vocational and professional training
• Skills development
• Entrepreneurship support
• Access to economic opportunities

The project reflects RET’s broader commitment to the Sahel, where a young and fast-growing population faces significant barriers to stable employment and economic inclusion. It is implemented by RET Germany in partnership with ASB, KARKARA, and AB2M.

---