The World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors approved the Skills for Innovation, Resilience, and Agility (SIRA) program on June 23, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The $642 million initiative aims to reach 5.4 million young people in Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, and Guinea with market-relevant skills, education, and job opportunities.
The program focuses on equipping youth with skills for innovation and resilience, targeting sectors with high demand for labor. It includes training in digital literacy, vocational skills, and entrepreneurship to address unemployment and underemployment in these West African nations.
According to the World Bank, the SIRA program is designed to support national efforts to create jobs and improve economic opportunities for young people. The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with local governments and private sector partners.
No additional details on specific implementation timelines or partner organizations were available at the time of this report.
