The two-day event may be over, but the conversation is just beginning. When the World Bank Group held its Open Days on September 21 and 22, 2026, at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire ice rink in Abidjan, it brought together hundreds of young Ivorians with experts, entrepreneurs, and program leaders. Now, the question on many minds is simple: what comes after the doors close?
The immediate reaction from attendees was a mix of enthusiasm and impatience. Many walked away with practical information on education, training, employment, and entrepreneurship programs. Others wondered aloud whether these opportunities would translate into real jobs or funding. The event was designed to connect young people directly with the programs, projects, and financing available in Côte d’Ivoire, but the follow-through will determine its true impact.
What the open days actually delivered
Students seeking direction, recent graduates hunting for a first job, project holders, startup founders, and young professionals all had a seat at the table. They spoke with experts and discovered schemes that could match their needs. Discussions covered education and training, employment and professional integration, entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as infrastructure and local development projects.
Experts from various programs provided practical details on how to access training and support. Entrepreneurs shared their own journeys—not just the wins, but also the hurdles they faced along the way. For many young visitors, these stories were as valuable as the official information.
The debate: are two days enough?
Reactions on the ground were not uniformly positive. Some young people questioned whether a two-day event, however well-intentioned, can really shift the needle on youth unemployment. They pointed out that access to funding and long-term mentorship remains a challenge. Others argued that the open days serve a crucial purpose: they demystify international investments and show how they connect to national development priorities, especially in skills training and job insertion.
The World Bank’s ambition was clear: send young visitors home with concrete leads to apply for programs, develop their projects, seek support, or expand their professional networks. Whether that ambition is met will depend on what happens in the weeks and months ahead.
What comes next for young Ivorians
The event itself required no registration and was free to enter—a deliberate choice to lower barriers. But the real test is whether participants can now navigate the system. Will they find the follow-up support they need? Will the programs they learned about actually accept them? These are the questions that will shape the aftermath.
For now, the open days have done something important: they have put the spotlight on the gap between available opportunities and the young people who need them. The fallout from these two days may not be measured in immediate hires, but in how many Ivorian youth take the next step—and how many institutions step up to meet them halfway.
