Advancing a Youth Representation Bill for Elected Assemblies in Côte d’Ivoire

On 5–6 October 2026, parliamentarians, institutional representatives, experts and civil society actors will gather in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for the second activity of the WYDE Parliamentary Caucus, focused on “Youth Political Participation in Côte d’Ivoire: Exploring Ways to Strengthen the Regulatory Framework.”

Organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Political Dialogue West Africa within the framework of WYDE Political Parties, led by the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP) and funded by the European Union, the two-day meeting will advance discussions on how Côte d’Ivoire’s legal and institutional framework can better support the meaningful representation of young people in political and public decision-making.

Côte d’Ivoire has one of the youngest populations in the region, with an average age of 23.2 according to the 2021 national census. Yet young people remain underrepresented in elected assemblies and some public decision-making bodies. Existing national legislation already recognises the importance of youth participation, including the 2023 Youth Orientation Law, which calls for measures to guarantee youth representation in Parliament, local councils and the governing bodies of elected assemblies.

Building on the first Parliamentary Caucus meeting, this second activity will move the conversation towards concrete legislative options. Participants will examine a working draft bill aimed at strengthening youth representation in elected assemblies and public decision-making bodies, while considering its legal feasibility and its potential application within the Ivorian political and electoral context.

The current consolidated draft proposes a minimum 30% youth quota for candidacies to the National Assembly, Senate, regional councils and municipal councils, alongside provisions intended to ensure that youth inclusion goes beyond formal representation and provides realistic opportunities for election. It also considers youth representation in certain appointed public positions and mechanisms to encourage political parties to increase the presence of young candidates.

The first day will place the proposed reforms within a broader comparative and national context. Participants will examine examples of good practice in youth political participation from Africa and other regions, before discussing the legal, political and socio-cultural barriers that continue to affect young people’s access to political decision-making in Côte d’Ivoire. The programme will then turn to the revised draft bill, with legal experts analysing its provisions and identifying areas for further refinement.

On the second day, parliamentarians will provide their perspectives on the proposal and the challenges associated with its potential adoption in the Ivorian context. A dedicated session on legislative drafting will further examine the text from a technical and legal perspective, helping to assess how the proposed measures could be integrated coherently into the country’s existing regulatory framework.

The discussions will also draw on research conducted in 2025 by KAS and Centre Ahou to strengthen evidence-based advocacy for greater youth political participation. The meeting will conclude by identifying perspectives and next steps for advancing the work of the Parliamentary Caucus and continuing dialogue around the proposed reforms.

Importantly, the draft legislation seeks to strengthen youth representation without treating generations as competing interests. Its stated aim is to broaden young people’s access to decision-making while maintaining relevant requirements for competence, qualifications and eligibility, and ensuring that measures on youth representation complement existing provisions concerning women’s representation.

Through this process, WYDE Political Parties continues to create spaces where political dialogue can move towards concrete institutional and legislative action, supporting more meaningful participation of young women and men in democratic governance.

Event Details

Event: WYDE Parliamentary Caucus – Activity 2
Theme: Youth Political Participation in Côte d’Ivoire: Exploring Ways to Strengthen the Regulatory Framework
Dates: 5–6 October 2026
Location: KAS Office, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Organised by: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) – Political Dialogue West Africa
Project: WYDE Political Parties – led by ENoP and funded by the European Union
Participants: Parliamentarians, institutional representatives, legal and governance experts, civil society actors and project partners
Main topics: Youth political representation, legal and socio-cultural barriers to participation, comparative good practices, legislative reform, youth quotas, legislative drafting and evidence-based advocacy
Key focus: Review and further development of a working draft bill aimed at strengthening youth representation in elected assemblies and public decision-making bodies in Côte d’Ivoire.