Senegal has put youth employment at the forefront of its political agenda. The government has poured more than FCFA 544 billion (over $850 million) into youth employment policies since 2010, highlighting the need to evaluate their effectiveness. The objective of this chapter is to investigate the effective implementation of youth employment programs (YEPs) in Senegal. To do so, the chapter conducts a desk review of programs and, given the lack and/or limitations of administrative data, a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). The findings reveal that the Senegal government’s interventions in the period between 2000 and 2024 were broadly relevant and were effective in lifting many young people out of unemployment. Very few needy youths had the opportunity to participate in government programs. However, for those who did participate, positive effects appear to be temporary. Consequently, youth labor market outcomes are still lagging. The chapter identifies several governance aspects that need improvement. First, employment programs are poorly inclusive. Second, vulnerable groups are insufficiently targeted (most young refugees or youth with disabilities are excluded). Third, the programs are not well known to most youth. Finally, programs are fragmented and weakly coordinated, making them less effective. © 2026 selection and editorial matter, Ramos E. Mabugu and Lucas Ronconi; individual chapters, the contributors.
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