On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop met with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo in Bamako to intensify cooperation on social justice, decent work, and youth employment.
The discussions centered on addressing Mali’s substantial labor market challenges, particularly given that informal employment accounts for over 94% of the workforce. A major focus of the partnership involves the expansion of labor-intensive infrastructure programs, which aim to drive local investment and job creation by using regional labor and materials for public works.
The collaboration is structured around three strategic priorities identified by the ILO: promoting youth employment, expanding social protection, and strengthening social dialogue. Both officials examined ways to support a portfolio of priority projects that prioritize local capacity building and professional integration. Minister Diop also emphasized the importance of aligning the ILO’s mandate with the shifting confederal dynamics in the Sahel to ensure that regional initiatives effectively address economic resilience and social justice.
This high-level visit reinforces the ongoing partnership between Mali and the ILO, seeking to utilize infrastructure development as a tool for skills transfer and improved living conditions. By focusing on these economic levers, the two parties aim to boost local activity and provide the Malian youth with more stable avenues for professional growth within a challenging socio-economic landscape.
MD/te/fss/abj/APA