Togo/ Employment: CNP-Togo Mobilizes Businesses to Help Integrate 500 Young People into the Workforce

The National Council of Employers of Togo (CNP-Togo), with support from the Mastercard Foundation, is launching an initiative offering 500 12-month internship contracts as part of the “TALENT2AFRICA – Mastercard Foundation” program. The program aims to help young people enter the workforce and is intended to serve as a new tool for addressing the private sector’s skills needs.

The initiative provides for a monthly stipend of 125,000 CFA francs per beneficiary, fully funded by the Mastercard Foundation. For businesses, the program offers a twofold benefit: they can access pre-screened candidates and integrate them into real-world work situations for one year, without incurring recruitment costs.

Turning Job Placement into a Talent Pool

Beyond employment assistance, the program aims to align the needs of businesses with the skills available in the market. Beneficiaries can be trained directly within the host organizations, while employers will have sufficient time to assess their skills, productivity, and adaptability before potentially hiring them.

This immersion approach can thus help bridge the gap between training and labor market demands, while also serving as a talent pool for businesses, officials note.

The program complements “Active Summer Jobs, ” a program of the National Employment Agency (ANPE) funded by the government. Now in its second year, the program offers one-month internships paying 50,000 FCFA, designed for young learners seeking their first professional experience.

Both programs will be presented to businesses on August 20, 2026, in Lomé. For CNP-Togo, the challenge is to engage employers in order to transform these integration programs into concrete employment opportunities and strengthen human capital.

Source: togofirst