Cherif Sarr: Economic participation needs more pathways, not one prescribed route

The future economic prosperity of West Africa hinges on the ability to transition ambition into stable income sources. Historically, discussions around economic opportunity have been somewhat restrictive, focusing on education, qualifications, stable employment, and career progression. However, West Africa is a region of young, ambitious people with modern connections.

Every year, millions of young individuals reach the age of working, with expectations that differ significantly from those of previous generations. Women are particularly eager for greater economic autonomy, and technology is simultaneously reducing barriers to participation while introducing entirely new forms of work. Nevertheless, the formal sector cannot accommodate everyone who wants or needs to be part of it.

A report from the World Bank in July 2024 highlighted that six million young people join the labor force annually across Western and Central Africa, yet only about half a million new jobs are created. It is therefore necessary to ponder not just how to generate more jobs, but also how to broaden the legitimate avenues through which people can engage with the economy.

Economic participation transcends mere employment. A thriving economy necessitates both salaried workers and a diverse array of economic participants, including small traders, independent professionals, farmers, creators, artisans, technology entrepreneurs, family businesses, consultants, distributors, and individuals providing community services.

Many West Africans already engage in these roles, either by choice or due to limited options. The emphasis should be on facilitating individuals to move from informal, uncertain economic activities towards more productive, skilled, and secure participation. This necessitates a more expansive definition of entrepreneurship. Not every entrepreneur will launch a tech giant or secure venture capital investments; many will not.

Entrepreneurship can begin in more straightforward ways: recognizing a need, providing a product or service, identifying customers, managing income and expenses, and progressively cultivating a sustainable venture. For someone who has never had access to formal employment, the initial step of starting a business can be immensely significant.

However, launching a business is only the starting point. Access to customers, appropriate financing, and practical support are crucial in determining whether it can evolve into a sustainable livelihood. Enhanced trade policies consistent with the African Continental Free Trade Area could also assist smaller enterprises in accessing broader markets, as the World Bank has emphasized.

Substance must accompany the expansion of opportunities. Wider access to entrepreneurship should not entail reducing the standards of what constitutes a legitimate economic opportunity. As more individuals seek online avenues to increase their income, the line between genuine economic opportunities and unrealistic promises becomes increasingly blurry.

No legitimate form of entrepreneurship guarantees success. Income is influenced by numerous factors: effort, capability, demand, competition, experience, and timing. Anyone entering an entrepreneurial venture deserves a clear understanding of what is required, the associated costs, potential risks, and income generation mechanisms.

Businesses must also be accountable for addressing exaggerated income claims and deceptive offers made by representatives of these opportunities. Providing clear information and accessible complaint mechanisms should be integral to every opportunity. Entrepreneurship should broaden individuals' options, rather than exploit their aspirations.

Governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and law enforcement agencies share an interest in fostering environments where legitimate opportunities can flourish while making fraudulent activities more challenging to sustain. While finance is undoubtedly important in entrepreneurship, skills are equally crucial. Starting a small business requires understanding customers, effective communication, managing cash flow, utilizing digital tools, negotiation, problem-solving, and building trust—skills that remain valuable even if a specific venture fails.

Selling responsibly can enhance communication skills, managing customers can develop service-oriented abilities, tracking income and expenses can foster financial discipline and distinguish between revenue and profit, and building networks can enhance relationship-building skills. In the digital age, using social platforms for business purposes can also develop digital competence.

Therefore, the focus should not merely be on creating entrepreneurs, but on cultivating economically capable individuals. People may transition between employment, entrepreneurship, and independent work multiple times throughout their lives. The skills acquired in one context can be transferable to the next. In West Africa, women play a significant role in commerce and informal enterprise, yet their economic potential remains limited by unequal access to finance, networks, technology, training, and in many cases, time.

The need to expand participation is particularly pronounced among young women. According to ILOSTAT’s May 2026 analysis using 2022 data, the employment-to-population ratio for women aged 15 to 29 in Senegal was only 22.5 percent. Economic models that offer greater flexibility can assist in widening participation. However, flexibility alone does not equate to empowerment.

Women also require skills, financial literacy, digital tools, mentorship, and credible business networks. Training schedules and delivery methods should consider care responsibilities. The opportunities available to women must be transparent and financially viable. If entrepreneurship is to meaningfully contribute to women's economic participation, we should not only examine how many women initiate businesses, but also whether those businesses enhance their skills and income security.