In 2020, the city of Pointe-Noire in the Republic of Congo recorded a youth unemployment rate of more than 30 %, with the majority of young unemployed people living in the most disadvantaged districts, such as the commune of Tié-Tié. The majority of these have little or no information enabling them to avail of training and professional integration opportunities, due in particular to Social action units’ failure to ensure their mission to meet, listen to and guide young people. This is especially true of the Tié-Tié Social action unit, whose action is restricted due to insufficient human and financial resources and a lack of appropriate facilities and tools.
The Parein project, conducted by GRET and the Interprofessional artisans’ group of Congo (Giac) since January 2020, has highlighted the potential of the Tié-Tié Social action service. To achieve its global objective of improving socio-professional integration of disadvantaged young people in the district, the project has placed social service at the core of its strategic vision and is aiming to strengthen the Tié-Tié unit. To do this, the GRET and Giac teams are supporting the implementation of a framework for consultation, in order to encourage close collaboration of the public service (led by the Departmental Directorate of Social Affairs) with training centres, businesses and other social stakeholders in the city. For Jean-François Poaty Nkouta, head of the Social action unit in Tié-Tié district 3, “this support is enabling the unit to improve its position and its role supporting people in vulnerable situations”.
The Tié-Tié unit was equipped with IT equipment and its social officers received practical training. Their database was digitalised to ensure better monitoring of the public. They also participated in a workshop for exchange of practices on receiving, listening and guiding young people in vulnerable situations, organised with the various socio-professional integration stakeholders in Pointe-Noire.
