YAO KHERAAN

Kheraan Yao is building a youth movement in Côte d’Ivoire that links environmental awareness with economic opportunity. Through his initiative, Green Ivory, he is making the green economy visible and attainable as a pathway for jobs, entrepreneurship, and climate solutions.

Moving beyond solutions aimed at the direct material problem of plastics pollution, poor waste management, and other environmental concerns, Kheraan is building a youth movement to advance the green economy, connecting environmental awareness with economic opportunity. By mobilizing young people around concrete projects related to the ecological transition and building cross-sector partnerships with public and private stakeholders in the green economy, he is making the green economy visible, desirable, and accessible. He showcases green job opportunities, provides pathways to such opportunities, and facilitates young people entrepreneuring new green economic opportunities.

At the top of the pyramid, Kheraan is driving the launch of new green businesses. Through its Green Pathways program, Green Ivory incubates eco-businesses started by young people seeking to help create new green economic opportunities. These include businesses that produce biodegradable packaging made from banana stems and recycled paper, recycle plastic waste into construction bricks, transform organic waste into biological fertilizer, promote local food systems with permaculture and urban farming, and create sustainable urban waste management systems.

To build the pipeline of this potential, Kheraan also focuses on other ways to stimulate the green economy and create pathways into it for young people. For instance, his Plastic-Free Days initiative supports waste collection as a legitimate employment opportunity for young people while also building public awareness and political support for needed changes to address plastic pollution. Through this initiative, young waste collection agents are trained in five target cities and adopt the dual mission of collecting plastic waste from the community and households for recycling (facilitated by partnerships with local recycling companies) and raising awareness among local communities about better waste management, helping them adopt environmentally responsible practices. Green Ivory is now supporting these waste collectors to become green entrepreneurs, building their waste collection and awareness building into sustainable, structured enterprises. Through this process, the young people start to professionalize waste collection. At the same time, monthly clean-up days have brought together local community members, local government representatives, managers of recycling companies, as well as EU ambassadors and delegation staff, helping amplify messages about plastic pollution.

Additionally, Kheraan’s Career Days initiative showcases economic opportunity in the environmental field and facilitates job placements for young people, while also forging cross-sectoral collaborations to advance green economy prospects. Career Days inspire companies to commit to offering opportunities to young people, facilitate recruitment in the green economy sector, and provide personalized guidance to young people in their career paths. To build awareness of environmental issues and interest for these green economy career paths, Kheraan’s Green Schools initiative also integrates sustainability into school curriculum, ensuring a generation of young people grow up with environmental awareness and knowledge of sustainable practices.

Côte d’Ivoire faces a dual crisis: accelerating environmental degradation and persistently high youth unemployment. Climate change is disrupting agricultural cycles, threatening food security, and intensifying desertification, while poor waste management and plastic pollution worsen flooding, health risks, and ecosystem decline. Yet despite these urgent challenges, the green economy remains underdeveloped, undervalued, and largely invisible to young people.

The underdevelopment of the green economy is closely linked to youth unemployment in Côte d'Ivoire. The environmental sector is not perceived as a viable income-generating industry, leading to its marginalization. Informal waste collectors and recyclers often face stigma, and there are few incentives to formalize and develop sustainable waste management businesses. As a result, potential job opportunities in the environmental sector remain largely untapped.

High youth unemployment rates in Côte d'Ivoire contribute to poverty and social unrest. According to the 2012-2013 employment survey, the unemployment rate was officially recorded at 25-26.5%, though this figure likely underestimates the true extent of joblessness. Studies indicate that 80% of unemployed individuals in Côte d'Ivoire are between 25 and 34 years old, with 29% classified as inactive. The lack of employment opportunities leaves many young graduates without prospects, forcing them into informal economic activities for survival. This economic vulnerability increases the risk of political and social upheaval, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable job creation strategies within the environmental sector.

Environmental work is often seen as informal or marginal. Waste collectors, for example, play a critical role but remain underpaid and stigmatized, with little support to professionalize their work. At the same time, most young people are unaware of the career and entrepreneurship opportunities that exist in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, recycling, renewable energy, and circular economy industries. Without clear entry points, an entire generation faces limited economic prospects, even as the demand for climate solutions grows.

Government response has been fragmented and slow. While some initiatives exist to curb single-use plastics or promote recycling, enforcement is weak, investment is limited, and national policies do not adequately recognize or stimulate green industries. This leaves the sector poorly organized and largely untapped as a driver of employment. The result is a vicious cycle: youth unemployment fuels poverty and instability, while environmental crises deepen. Breaking this cycle requires a reframing, positioning the green economy not as a side issue but as a strategic lever for both climate transition and youth livelihoods.

Green Ivory’s strategy is to equip young people to enter and shape the green economy, transforming environmental concern into concrete opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. Its programs form a pipeline that moves youth from awareness to opportunity to leadership, while building cross-sectoral partnerships that embed the green economy into public and private agendas.

At the foundation of Green Ivory’s strategy is its commitment to cultivating environmental awareness among young people and their communities. Through the Green Schools initiative, the organization integrates sustainability into the education system by creating environmental clubs, school gardens, and waste management programs. By partnering with UNICEF and other stakeholders, Green Ivory has trained more than 11,000 children and 150 teachers across five regions, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility that extends beyond schools and into families and local communities. This early-stage engagement ensures that young people grow up with an understanding of sustainable practices and are motivated to act.

Recognizing that awareness alone is not enough, Green Ivory provides youth with concrete career pathways in the green and blue economy (marine environment). Launched in 2021, the Green Pathways program functions as an incubator, equipping young people with the skills and resources needed to launch sustainable businesses. The program offers capacity-building workshops, mentorship, and access to funding. Over the past two years, 120 young entrepreneurs have been trained, and five eco-businesses have secured $25,000 each in seed funding. These ventures focus on innovative environmental solutions, such as transforming plastic waste into bricks and developing banana fiber bags as alternatives to single-use plastics. By linking education with economic opportunities, Green Pathways empowers youth to become both environmental advocates and business leaders.

Complementing the incubation efforts of Green Pathways, Career Days serve as a platform for connecting youth with job opportunities and industry professionals. As the first environmental career-focused event in Côte d'Ivoire, Career Days bring together companies, policymakers, and NGOs to create pathways for employment in the sustainability sector. The event has facilitated nearly 2,000 job placements and business partnerships, demonstrating the growing demand for green careers. By showcasing viable economic prospects within the environmental sector, Career Days not only inspire young people but also reinforce the financial sustainability of eco-friendly enterprises.

To instill behavioral change at a broader level, Green Ivory engages the public through Plastic-Free Days, a series of community-driven clean-up events that emphasize education, advocacy, and action. Since its inception in 2022, Plastic-Free Days have reached over 1,000 individuals, collected more than 300 tons of plastic waste, and created jobs for young waste collectors who previously lacked formal employment. These events also serve as a platform for collaboration between local communities, businesses, and international organizations. The most recent Plastic-Free Day in Bassam, attended by EU representatives, resulted in additional infrastructure support, including the provision of large storage containers for plastic waste by the MSC Foundation. This initiative highlights the power of public engagement in driving systemic environmental change.

At the core of Green Ivory’s strategy is the belief that young people are the key drivers of sustainable change. By equipping them with knowledge, skills, and economic opportunities, the organization is cultivating a movement that transcends traditional boundaries. Programs like Green Pathways and Career Days have already demonstrated their ability to foster leadership, as seen with Youth Environmental Engagement (YEE), an initiative launched by three program graduates that has since established its own plastic recycling projects. By building a network of empowered youth who take ownership of environmental solutions, Green Ivory is ensuring that its impact will extend far beyond its direct programs, creating a lasting shift towards sustainability in West Africa.

Together, these initiatives are creating a scalable, replicable model that is already being adopted nationally. The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), co-funded by the Ivoirian government, partnered with Green Ivory to address its recruitment challenges, drawing directly from Green Pathways graduates. Local governments are donating infrastructure, NGOs are collaborating on training and advocacy, and companies are engaging through technical and financing partnerships.

Looking forward, Green Ivory plans to expand into Senegal, Benin, and Nigeria, positioning itself as a regional leader in advancing the green economy. A major component of this expansion plan is the establishment of a Center for Green Jobs in Abidjan, which will serve as a regional hub for training, incubation, and networking, further solidifying Green Ivory’s role in fostering a sustainable future for young people across the region.

Growing up in a modest yet loving family in Abidjan's Yopougon commune, Yao enjoyed a happy childhood with two of his four siblings. His parents, despite their modest incomes, worked tirelessly to provide them with a solid education, instilling in them the values of hard work, integrity, and the importance of learning. Their dedication and values fostered a safe and nurturing environment that would profoundly shape his future.

From a young age, he was encouraged to develop a love for reading and the pursuit of knowledge. However, what truly captivated him during his childhood were the nature documentaries that he watched avidly. Spending hours exploring the beauty and fragility of the planet through these films deeply influenced his perspective on the world. These early experiences sensitized him to environmental issues and ignited a passion for protecting the environment. They laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to the cause of environmental conservation.

In his formative years, he exhibited a natural inclination towards leadership and changemaking. One of his earliest experiences was organizing a study group in primary school, where he honed his organizational and communication skills. By taking the initiative to arrange revision sessions for his classmates, he learned to lead and motivate others toward a common goal—academic success. Additionally, serving as a member of the church choir allowed him to contribute to his community through religious activities, reinforcing his sense of service and responsibility.

High school basketball taught him invaluable lessons in teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. Collaborating with teammates on the court, he learned to trust others, manage conflicts, and work together to achieve shared goals. These diverse experiences provided him with the skills and values essential for engaging in transformative initiatives and becoming an effective leader in the pursuit of meaningful objectives.

As a teenager and young adult, his awareness of social issues, particularly those related to the environment, grew significantly. The pressing problem of plastic pollution in his hometown of Abidjan became a focal point of his concern. This awakening prompted him to deepen his understanding of the ecological challenges facing our society. In response, he leveraged social media platforms to raise awareness and mobilize others. He created a Facebook group where he shared information and tips on environmental issues, encouraging his followers to adopt eco-friendly practices. This initiative sparked increasing interest and raised awareness about the importance of environmental protection. Inspired by this experience he established Green Ivory which marked a turning point in his life, signifying his commitment to actively contributing to the transformation of our society towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.

One of the most significant challenges he faced before fully committing to his environmental work was his father's pessimistic view of his activities in environmental conservation. He believed there was no professional future in this field that could guarantee immediate social and financial security. To overcome this challenge, he initially pursued a well-paying position at an international consulting firm in 2023 to appease his father. However, after just nine months, he realized that he was straying from his true calling and found no fulfilment in this job. He made the courageous decision to resign and return to his passion for environmental preservation.

To cope with the psychological pressure from his father and gain the freedom to pursue his environmental work, he took the initiative to rent an apartment. This change allowed him to focus fully on Green Ivory's projects and work with determination to achieve his mission of environmental protection in Côte d'Ivoire.