The Ivorian government launched the 2026 edition of the Programme National de Stage, d’Apprentissage et de Reconversion (PNSAR), targeting more than 152,000 young people at a cost of over 26 billion CFA francs (approximately $44 million). The 2026 edition is explicitly oriented toward AI-adjacent careers, with career guidance panels held under the theme “Artificial Intelligence: Skills and Careers for Youth Engaged in Côte d’Ivoire’s Sustainable Transformation.” These sessions cover emerging AI professions, required skills, and the ethical and social dimensions of AI.
The PNSAR is a government-funded, annually executed programme providing internships, apprenticeships, and retraining opportunities. The explicit inclusion of AI ethics and social dimensions in the 2026 career guidance panels goes beyond tool-use training to address the broader implications of AI for workers and society.
Who it affects: Over 152,000 young Ivorians seeking entry into the labour market or career transitions. The AI-themed orientation positions the entire 2026 cohort to receive at least introductory exposure to AI careers and ethical considerations.
What is notably missing: PNSAR is a workforce integration and internship programme, not an AI literacy curriculum. The AI focus in the 2026 edition is primarily through career guidance orientation sessions rather than structured AI skills training embedded throughout the programme. No certification or competency standard for AI literacy is attached to programme completion.