Senegalese NGO Calls for Audit of Youth Policies, Questions CNIEJ Performance

The Action pour les Droits Humains et l’Amitié (ADHA), a Senegalese non-governmental organization, has reiterated its demand for an independent and transparent audit of existing public policies and structures dedicated to youth, particularly concerning employment, training, and financing.

This renewed call from ADHA follows the recent installation of the Conseil consultatif des jeunes and is particularly pertinent as the Senegalese government prepares a new National Employment Policy for 2026-2034, which aims to fundamentally restructure state action in the labor market. Adama Mbengue, President of ADHA, specifically questioned the absence of a prior evaluation of existing mechanisms before the creation of new ones. He cited the Conseil national pour l’insertion et l’emploi des jeunes (CNIEJ), established in 2021 by decree, which was mandated to monitor, evaluate, and produce annual reports on youth employment and integration policies. Mbengue's statements, reported by Pressafrik, highlight the critical need to locate these reports and understand their recommendations, arguing that past professional integration initiatives have suffered from dispersion, duplication, and a lack of coordination. ADHA insists that an audit covering all youth-focused policies, programs, and institutions is essential to ensure the coherence of new orientations and prevent the repetition of past policy shortcomings. The Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Moustapha Ndieck Sarré, recently presided over a workshop to validate the roadmap for this new policy, underscoring the timeliness of ADHA's advocacy.

This development further emphasizes the critical role of civil society in advocating for accountability and effective governance in public policy formulation and implementation. The timing of ADHA's intervention, coinciding with the development of a major new National Employment Policy, positions it to potentially influence the legal and regulatory framework of future youth employment initiatives. It underscores the administrative and legal requirement for established public bodies to fulfill their mandates, including reporting obligations, and reinforces the public's right to information regarding the performance and impact of state-funded programs. The focus on avoiding "dispersion, doublons et chevauchements" (dispersion, duplication, and overlaps) points to a broader need for clear legal mandates, robust coordination mechanisms, and efficient resource allocation within public administration.

Key parties involved include the Action pour les Droits Humains et l’Amitié (ADHA) and its President, Adama Mbengue, the Conseil consultatif des jeunes, the Conseil national pour l’insertion et l’emploi des jeunes (CNIEJ), the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Moustapha Ndieck Sarré, and the broader Senegalese Government. The legal context for these discussions is rooted in administrative law, which governs the executive's power to formulate and implement public policy through decrees and strategic plans. Principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance, often enshrined in constitutional provisions and specific laws on access to information, provide the framework for ADHA's demands. An audit would also engage public finance management laws, particularly concerning the oversight role of institutions like the Cour des Comptes.

Legal professionals advising government entities, NGOs, or private sector partners involved in public policy implementation should recognize the increasing pressure for evidence-based policy-making and accountability. This situation highlights the importance of clear mandates, robust reporting mechanisms, and transparent evaluation processes for all public programs. Attorneys may be called upon to advise on compliance with existing reporting obligations, the legal framework for conducting independent audits, or the drafting of new policy documents, such as the National Employment Policy, to ensure they incorporate lessons from past evaluations and build in strong accountability measures from inception. The significant influence of civil society advocacy in shaping policy development is a key consideration for all stakeholders.