In training centers in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and secondary cities, a new sense of excitement is palpable. Thousands of young Congolese, aged 18 to 35, are preparing their future within the framework of the Social Protection and Productive Inclusion Program for Youth (PSIPJ), whose large-scale deployment was announced at the end of 2025.
The ambition matches the scale of the country’s demographic challenges: to train tens of thousands of young people each year, not to give them degrees with no prospects, but to provide them with genuine professional pathways leading to employment or business creation.
The program stands out for its hands-on approach. Each participant is supported from the initial training all the way to professional integration. Those who choose entrepreneurship receive not only business management training, but also support in developing their project, guidance in securing funding, and follow-up after launching their activity.
“Before, I was stuck in a cycle of odd jobs with no future,” recounts a young beneficiary in Pointe-Noire. “Thanks to the program, I learned mechanics and received a toolkit. Today, I have my own workshop. I earn a decent living.”
The originality of the PSIPJ also lies in its integration with existing systems. It leverages the Single Social Registry, inherited from the “Lisungi” program, to identify the most vulnerable youth and offer them a chance to improve their situation. The digital payment platform allows for the rapid and direct disbursement of training grants and business start-up support.
The training programs offered meet the real needs of the Congolese economy: construction and public works, agriculture and livestock, agri-food processing, crafts, services, information technology. The goal is to train young people in sectors where they will actually find work or can start their own business.
Beyond the numbers, an entire social model is transforming. Instead of passively waiting for aid, Congolese youth are encouraged to become the architects of their own development, with the support of the state.
The PSIPJ embodies President Denis Sassou-Nguesso’s conviction that youth is not a problem to manage, but a resource to develop. By investing heavily in the training and support of young people, he is preparing the Congo of tomorrow, where every citizen will have their place and their contribution to make to national construction.