The Central African Republic is looking to replicate Burkina Faso’s approach to developing its skilled trades sector, as it seeks to tackle youth unemployment and expand income-generating opportunities.
Authorities in Bangui plan to establish a chamber of skilled trades inspired by Burkina Faso’s model, with a focus on strengthening vocational training, improving regulation and supporting small-scale economic activity.
The initiative was discussed during talks in Ouagadougou between Central African Republic’s Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises, Hyppolite Jean-Paul Ngate-Robard, and Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo.
Officials say the plan is rooted in knowledge transfer, with Burkina Faso agreeing to share its experience in structuring and formalising the sector. “We are satisfied with the discussions,” Ngate-Robard said, while the Burkinabe government confirmed its willingness to provide technical support.
Burkina Faso’s model is widely regarded as a success story in the region. Its craft sector has grown into the country’s second-largest employer, contributing roughly 30 percent of gross domestic product and engaging around two million people across more than 200 trades, including textiles, construction and food processing.
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The system is anchored by the Chambre des métiers de l’artisanat du Burkina Faso, which was established in 2007 and became fully operational in 2011. The body has played a central role in registering artisans, maintaining a national trades registry and organising vocational training programmes.
One of its key innovations has been the introduction of a professional artisan card, which has helped formalise the sector and improve access to opportunities. By 2020, authorities said nearly 90 percent of artisans had been identified, marking significant progress in bringing informal workers into a structured system.
However, challenges persist. Officials acknowledge that the registry still does not fully capture the scale of the sector, with estimates suggesting up to three million artisans compared to two million officially recorded. Limited long-term funding also remains a constraint.
For the Central African Republic, the move reflects an urgent need to address structural weaknesses in its labour market. Economic growth has remained sluggish in recent years, averaging around 1.5 percent between 2016 and 2024, according to the African Development Bank.
At the same time, population growth continues to outpace economic expansion, putting pressure on incomes and job creation. The country’s unemployment rate stood at about 6.3 percent in 2025, with most workers concentrated in the informal sector.
A report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development highlighted the country’s limited economic diversification despite its natural resource potential, identifying the craft sector as a priority area for development but one that remains weakly regulated.
Broader regional data from the International Labour Organization show that informal employment dominates across Central Africa, accounting for nearly 92 percent of jobs, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
By adopting Burkina Faso’s model, authorities in Bangui hope to better organise the sector, expand access to training and finance, and create more sustainable employment opportunities. Analysts say success will depend on sustained political commitment, adequate funding and the effective implementation of reforms aimed at formalising the largely informal economy.
