The African Development Bank and the Government of Burkina Faso launched the third phase of the incubator program of the Support Project for Youth Employment and Skills Development in Rural Areas PADEJ-MR on July 15, 2025, in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
Ms. Franceline Kabore, representing the country's Minister of Sports, Youth, and Employment, and Ms. Mouna Diawara, Head of Operations both attended.
The PADEJ-MR aims to promote the economic empowerment and resilience of young people in rural areas through entrepreneurship. The project, with a total cost of 13.62 million, mainly financed by a 12.25 million grant from the African Development Bank, has supported the establishment of an incubator mechanism providing practical training in financial education and safeguards, personalized coaching, and local technical support.
The initiative aims to help young people convert their ideas into viable businesses in promising sectors such as agriculture, agri-food, services, crafts, and new technologies. In the third phase of the incubator program, 65 young people from the four regions covered by the Project are receiving support to help them prepare business plans that are eligible for financing.
