Kolda region is the poorest region of Senegal according to the latest survey in 2011, with an estimated poverty incidence of 77.5%. The number of young people of working age (18 to 35 years old) makes up more than half of the population. Yet, Kolda has the second highest declared unemployment rate in Senegal (38.8%), far behind the national average of 25.7%. The net average annual number of jobs created is 259 for a population of over 800,000 people. As a result, many young people struggle to find work due to the lack of skills, job training, and sustainable entrepreneurship development and funding model. This situation leads to despair, poverty, delinquency, drugs, and illegal immigration.
KDF plans to help at-risk youths find decent employment and create successful businesses through entrepreneurship and workforce development programs, support existing vocational training programs, and promote green jobs in the Kolda. KDF is developing and implementing strategies to coach and support start-ups and open distribution outlets for small businesses.
