In brief
The new KITLANY pilot, driven by Stay in Africa, will run for 18–24 months and provide psychosocial support, vocational training, and job placement for 200 returning migrants and 100 young locals. Officials forecast 150 direct jobs and benefits for 1,200 people. Two donor roundtables at the national conference are expected to secure over half of the funding.
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, October 30 – The Ivorian government announced today the launch of a pilot program that will help citizens who have moved abroad and then returned home.
Return migration has surged in recent years, prompting the government to focus on creating a structured reintegration process. By providing economic, psychological and social support, the initiative aims to turn the challenges of re‑entry into opportunities for both individuals and communities.
The project, named KITLANY, is managed by the international platform Stay in Africa. It is scheduled to run for 18 to 24 months and will cost roughly 2 billion CFA francs—about 3.5 million U.S. dollars—according to the Prime Minister’s office.
KITLANY intends to reach 300 people in total: 200 returning migrants and 100 young people from communities that have been affected by this movement. Through psychosocial counseling, vocational training and employment facilitation, the program wants to equip participants with the skills they need to secure stable livelihoods.
Officials say that the pilot will create 150 direct jobs and offer indirect economic benefits to around 1,200 people. These benefits will arise from the improved workforce participation of returning migrants and the addition of new skills to local economies.
The announcement came at the second National Conference on Migrants Reintegration. Minister Delegate Adama Dosso, who is responsible for African Integration and Ivorian affairs abroad, explained that two donor roundtables will be held during the two‑day event. He hopes the meetings will secure more than half of the necessary funds for the project.
Government statistics indicate a strengthening trend in support for returnees: by the end of September, 4,125 returning migrants had received assistance, compared with 2,313 for all of 2025. The new pilot is seen as a response to this growing need for structured reintegration programs.
Adama Dosso said:
While returning home sometimes marks the end of a difficult journey, it should also open up new prospects for personal recovery, economic integration and contribution to sustainable development.
With the pilot funding in place and donor agreements on the horizon, officials expect a demonstrable impact on both the returnees’ livelihoods and the wider economic landscape of the regions where the program will be implemented.
