๐๐ฬ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ, ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐: ๐๐ฎ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฬ๐ง๐ข๐ง ๐๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ค๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ฅ'๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ข ๐๐ญ ๐ฅ'๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฌ.
The development of a territory rests on solid foundations: it must be local, to meet the specific needs of its inhabitants; sustainable, to preserve resources for future generations; and inclusive, so that everyone can participate in and benefit from it.
In Benin, the Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) approach is an essential lever for achieving these objectives. With this in mind, Job Booster Bรฉnin and the Lokossa town council have just laid the foundations for a promising partnership to boost youth employment and entrepreneurship in the Lokossa commune.
The "Talents Africains ร l'International (TAI)" project is a major initiative to boost the employability and entrepreneurship of young people in the WAEMU, and by extension in places like Lokossa in Benin. In Benin, this project is supported by theANPE BENIN and coordinated by M. CEPHISE BEO AGUIAR.
According to Job Booster Benin, the Talents Africains ร l'International (TAI) project and the Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) share common objectives and can have synergistic links for sustainable and inclusive development in Africa. Here's how they fit together:
1. Complementarity in Youth Employability and Entrepreneurship :
TAI as a springboard for the SSE: Young people benefiting from TAI acquire significant professional experience and skills (technical, intercultural, project management, etc.) within WAEMU companies. This experience is a major asset if they subsequently choose to become involved in the SSE. They can thus :
Creating social enterprises: Armed with their knowledge of the markets and their network, they can identify unmet social or environmental needs and develop innovative solutions in the form of social enterprises.
Joining existing SSE structures: Their profile, enriched by international experience, makes them attractive to cooperatives, associations, mutual societies and other SSE organisations looking for varied skills to develop and innovate.
Bringing an international perspective to local SSE: The TAI experience can help to strengthen the international dimension of SSE initiatives, by promoting the exchange of good practice or the development of cross-border partnerships.
SSE as a vector for post-TAI integration: SSE, by its inclusive nature and its ability to create jobs that cannot be relocated, can offer relevant outlets for young people returning from their TAI assignment. While companies in the "traditional" sector do not always offer the desired opportunities, the SSE can represent a route to professional integration and commitment for these talented young people wishing to make a social impact.
2. Shared Values and Objectives :
Sustainable and inclusive development: Both TAI and SSE aim for development that is not limited to economic growth, but integrates social and environmental dimensions. TAI, by promoting youth employment and business development, contributes indirectly to prosperity and stability, while SSE does so directly through its principles.
Strengthening skills and autonomy: TAI equips young people with professional skills that foster their autonomy. SSE, on the other hand, focuses on empowering individuals and communities through work, participation and collective decision-making.
Social and entrepreneurial innovation: TAI encourages initiative and entrepreneurship. The SSE is essentially a field of social innovation, seeking creative solutions to societal challenges. The talents trained by TAI can bring their creativity and dynamism to the SSE ecosystem.
3. Potential synergies in terms of public policies and partnerships :
TAI (UEMOA, Member States, companies) and SSE (local authorities such as Lokossa Town Hall, civil society organisations, incubators) players can work together to create an ecosystem that is favourable to young people's employability and entrepreneurship.
Mentoring programmes, additional training or easier access to finance could be put in place to guide "African talent" towards SSE projects with a high social impact.
Companies hosting TAI trainees could be made aware of SSE principles and encouraged to develop branches or partnerships with SSE structures, thereby creating opportunities for young volunteers.
In conclusion, while TAI focuses on international work experience for employability and entrepreneurship in the broadest sense, SSE offers an ideological and practical framework for more ethical and equitable development. The two approaches can be mutually reinforcing, with TAI preparing young professionals with the necessary skills, and SSE offering them opportunities for engagement and social impact in their home territories or beyond.
