Grand-Bassam: National stakeholders to take ownership of the 2025-2029 National Action Plan against Child trafficking, exploitation, and child labor

From October 1 to 3, 2025, a workshop was held at the Nouvel Hôtel le Rêve in Grand-Bassam to explain the 2025-2029 National Action Plan (NAP) to combat trafficking, exploitation, and child labor. Chaired by Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire and Chair of the National Monitoring Committee (CNS), this meeting aimed to strengthen the understanding and proper implementation of this strategic document by all stakeholders.

Over three days, 45 experts from the Interministerial Committee (CIM), the CNS, industry, national and international non-governmental organizations, and United Nations agencies took part in the proceedings, which were structured around three key events : the opening ceremony, the plenary sessions, and the closing ceremony.

An opening ceremony marked by strong commitments

Dr. Edouard Mockey, First Deputy Mayor of Grand-Bassam, praised the First Lady's ongoing commitment and expressed his hope that this conference would strengthen child protection.

On behalf of the United Nations agencies, the representative of the ILO, Mr. Sylvain Konan, recalled the efforts made by Côte d'Ivoire to adopt this fourth Plan and reaffirmed the support of technical partners, notably the ILO, UNICEF, and IOM.

Speaking on behalf of the Office of the First Lady, Mr. Amany Konan recalled the progress made since 2011 while highlighting the remaining challenges, such as the interoperability of information systems and the traceability of supply chains.

The opening speech, delivered on behalf of the Minister of Employment and Social Protection, emphasized on the budget estimated at 165.6 billion CFA francs, and the need for collective commitment to ensure its full implementation.

Technical presentations to strengthen action

The plenary session focused on four major presentations. The first, given by Mr. Amany Konan, gave a clear explanation of the 2025-2029 NAP, its objectives, financing mechanisms, and monitoring and evaluation framework. The document aims to tackle the root causes of child labor and address the socio-economic challenges of strategic sectors such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, cashew nuts, and oil palm.

A second presentation, led by the ICI Foundation, focused on data collection and annual reporting tools, including an Excel matrix of indicators for monitoring the plan's progress.

The same team then presented a web application designed to consolidate monitoring and evaluation and facilitate the reporting of information by actors in the field.

Finally, the Executive Secretary of the CIM, Dr. N'Guettia Martin, outlined the strategy for coordinating national actions, presenting in particular the Geographic Information System for Observation and Monitoring of Child Labor in Côte d'Ivoire (SIGOSTECI), a platform designed to centralize data at the national level.

At the end of the discussions, several recommendations were made, including the establishment of technical committees to develop annual work plans and finalize digital monitoring tools.

The closing ceremony featured the reading of the summary report and three speeches, including one by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, who emphasized the importance of enhanced coordination with the private sector, particularly in the context of the National Strategy for Sustainable Cocoa.

Towards enhanced and inclusive implementation

Participants agreed on the need to: structure annual work plans, finalize digital collection and monitoring tools, consolidate national data, and strengthen joint supervision missions.

This workshop enabled a better understanding of the 2025-2029 NAP, a strategic document designed to intensify the fight against trafficking, exploitation, and child labor. The recommendations made and the steps identified aim to ensure effective and sustainable implementation, addressing the ethical, social, and economic challenges associated with this crucial issue.

Côte d'Ivoire thus reaffirms its commitment to protecting every child and to pursue the efforts undertaken for more than a decade to eradicate child labor throughout the country.