The region's two-wheeled transport fleet is expanding with the introduction of electric motorcycle taxis. The Director General of the National Agency for the Promotion of Youth Employment (ANPEJ), Sinna Amadou Gaye, launched the Pilot Phase of the Project to Support Eco-Mobility and Youth Entrepreneurship in the municipality of Matam, located in northeastern Senegal, on Tuesday.

The launch ceremony, which took place at the bus station, was attended by the deputy governor in charge of development, local elected officials, representatives of consular chambers, the main partners of the project, including the representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the representative of Proxy Mobility, as well as representatives of motorcycle driver associations and several youth and women's associations.

This project, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by the National Employment Promotion Agency (ANPEJ), reflects the Senegalese government's commitment to supporting Senegalese youth towards a sustainable future that offers economic opportunities and respects the environment. In addition to promoting green entrepreneurship, it aims to contribute to the fight against climate change through the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable transportation solutions tailored to local conditions.

The implementation of the pilot phase of the Project to Support Ecomobility and Youth Entrepreneurship, according to the Director General of ANPEJ, perfectly illustrates "a shared vision, a collective commitment, and a strong response to the issue of youth employment, which fully contributes to achieving the objectives of the Senegal 2050 framework." "With the development of innovative sectors that create wealth, jobs, and social inclusion, young people will benefit from quality support through the development of maintenance and upkeep infrastructure, as well as training in digital and renewable energy professions," the Director General stated.

Adding that the project will allow young people working in the motorcycle taxi transport sector (30 beneficiaries, including 10 in Matam and 20 in Kaolack) to have access to green job opportunities with improved working conditions through enhanced social protection, the acquisition of new skills, and the structuring of their income-generating activities.

In the phasing of the project, attention was given to the women who, with their Economic Interest Group, will manage the charging stations at the power plant, a dedicated space where they will carry out commercial activities such as catering.

Calling for commitment to make this opportunity a real lever for personal and collective success, Ms. Sinna Amadou Gaye asked young people to make responsible use of motorcycle taxis in strict compliance with road safety rules and commitments made.

Furthermore, the Director General of ANPEJ notes that all the conditions are in place to ensure the success of this initiative, which holds great promise, thanks in particular to the involvement and commitment of all stakeholders (partner institutions, youth organizations, beneficiaries and the entrepreneurial ecosystem).