June 2026 – At the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC-114) in Geneva, Mali made a strong case for harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) as a driver of youth employment and decent work. The Malian delegation, led by Labour and Social Dialogue Minister Fassoun Coulibaly and Employment and Vocational Training Minister Oumou Sall Seck, emphasized that AI must be governed responsibly to avoid becoming a new source of exclusion.
Coulibaly’s remarks drew on the report by ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo, which advocates a human-centred approach to AI. Mali expressed full alignment with this perspective, stressing that stronger public institutions and active social dialogue are essential safeguards against the digital divide.
To translate vision into action, Mali has launched several structural reforms. A national entrepreneurship strategy backed by a 2026–2030 action plan has been adopted, while a national employment policy and vocational training policy are being finalized. On the ground, nine vocational training centres have been built, rehabilitated, or equipped, and a national certification framework is under preparation. Worksite-based training programmes are also being rolled out to help young people enter the labour market more quickly.
Mali is simultaneously working to reduce the dominance of the informal economy, which employs 95.5% of workers and nearly 99% of youth aged 15–29. A national study on formalizing the sector is underway under the National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development (SNEDD) 2024–2033.
These reforms come against the backdrop of a labour market under immense demographic pressure. With a population of 25.2 million in 2025 and a median age of 16.8 years, Mali faces annual growth of 3% that intensifies employment challenges. Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, accounting for 64.2% of jobs and over 70% of youth employment. The ILO estimates youth unemployment at 3.9% in 2025, but the NEET rate stood at 30.1% in 2024, reflecting deeper vulnerabilities.
The ILO’s World Employment and Social Outlook 2026 warns that digital transitions could exacerbate these challenges if not managed inclusively. Mali’s intervention at ILC-114 highlights its determination to anchor reforms within the global human-centred labour agenda, ensuring that AI becomes a tool for opportunity rather than exclusion.
Whether these initiatives deliver lasting results will depend on sustained investment, institutional capacity, and the ability to balance demographic realities with digital transformation. Mali’s message in Geneva was clear: AI must serve as a bridge to decent work, not a barrier.
