As international development enters a new era of scrutiny and shifting geopolitical dynamics, calls for greater accountability and trust between donors and recipient communities are growing louder. From the 2023 SDG Summit at the United Nations to recent critiques in mainstream media, the message is clear: traditional development models are not delivering on their promises. A new approach is required, redefining stakeholder roles with the Client–Provider–Payer model.

2. Unemployed Graduates: Rethinking the Role of Universities

Participants emphasized the gap between university training and the realities of the job market in Francophone Africa. It was noted that many graduates struggle to find employment—not because society lacks needs, but because training remains too theoretical and disconnected from real demands. The need for project-based, locally relevant learning closely linked to businesses, local authorities, and communities was highlighted.

3. Launch of the Problem-Solving Education Program (PSEP)

Radenamias’ program aims to place education at the center of solving societal challenges. Teachers and students become co-actors of development through supervised projects targeting local issues (water, health, waste, agriculture, etc.). The approach promotes action, collaboration, and autonomy while removing bureaucratic barriers. Examples of successful initiatives achieved with limited resources were used to demonstrate feasibility.

4. Valuing Informal Careers and Turning Them into Professional Opportunities

Another key point addressed the recognition of currently informal activities (elderly care, home services) as emerging economic sectors. The proposal is to structure these activities into real professions that create jobs for youth, supported through training and partnerships with local businesses.

5. Family Education and Violence Prevention

A case of school violence in France sparked a discussion on the complementarity between family and school education. It was emphasized that the absence of a cohesive educational environment weakens young people, even those who appear “well-behaved.” This highlights the need for a holistic educational system that integrates family values, emotional development, and school learning.

6. Strengthening Practical and Cross-Cutting Skills

Participants advocated for an education that is less compartmentalized and more centered on cross-cutting skills. Learning to apply knowledge, solve technical and social problems, and collaborate across disciplines is crucial for local transformation. Knowledge exchange between regions and countries was seen as essential for building a modern and adaptable pedagogy. The idea of biogas solutions was briefly mentioned.

 

7. Encouraging Initiative from an Early Age

Mentorship, internships, and early-stage entrepreneurship were strongly recommended. High-potential fields identified include: climate change management, green economy, sustainable agriculture, construction, environmental services, and technology. All of these require a practical, connected, and creative form of education.

8. Critical Thinking: The Forgotten Key Skill

A shared observation: many Francophone educational systems favor repetition over reflection. There is an urgent need to introduce pedagogical approaches that promote analysis, experimentation, and autonomy—similar to those used in North America and Germany. Such reforms would empower students to become agents of change rather than passive knowledge receivers.

9. Building a Skilled and Prepared Workforce

The discussion converged on the need for a paradigm shift: moving from a diploma-centered logic to a skills-centered one. Institutions must support young people in acquiring real competencies through mentoring, career guidance, and continuous training.

10. Proposed Next Steps

  • Formalize a collaborative network between teachers, businesses, students, and communities.

  • Launch a participatory platform for identifying problems to solve.

  • Jointly define the first pilot projects to be implemented starting in September.

  • Encourage contributions from all stakeholders via a shared document to be enriched collectively.