Organized and coordinated by USF, a seminar was held from November 24 to 28, 2025, at the University Institute of Abidjan on the role of UN agencies in development policies in Côte d’Ivoire. Several agencies of the United Nations System participated and co-led this seminar: the Office of the UN Coordinator in Côte d’Ivoire, the United Nations Volunteers program, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), and IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development).

The Office of the United Nations System Coordinator presented the functions and decision-making mechanisms of the United Nations, as well as information on the UN System Agencies. Information on the impact of the 2019 reform and the functions of the UN System Coordinator in each country provided insight into the coherence of support and collaborations undertaken with the UN. The United Nations Volunteers program offers privileged opportunities for students to become familiar with the tasks and responsibilities of the organization and thus gain experience.

The topics addressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Human Rights concerned the different phases of the Project on the Protection of Particularly Vulnerable Migrants. The actions are focused on strengthening the capacities of practitioners to investigate and prosecute cases of migrant trafficking and to promote the protection of migrants’ fundamental rights. The students were particularly sensitive to the issues presented regarding human rights violations. The numerous interventions and examples provided showed their significant concerns related to these issues and the essential search for solutions with public authorities and specialized national institutions.

UNICEF mainly highlighted the strategic alignment with the country’s National Development Program. More specific topics were addressed, such as children’s mental health, access to quality basic education, nutrition, and skills development. The objectives of the presentation made by the United Nations Population Fund were related to their mandate, as issues concerning the improvement of living conditions as well as sexual and reproductive health were discussed. Many questions were raised by the students about the measures planned to end female genital mutilation, child marriage, and other forms of violence. These exchanges were sometimes technical, and the students showed great interest in the commitments of this agency.

The presentation of the International Fund for Agricultural Development mainly focused on the provisions and mechanisms for financial support for isolated rural populations, the transition from subsistence farming to cash-crop farming, and access to markets. The students showed great interest in the topic of commitments to these vulnerable populations. They questioned the adherence of rural communities to the programs implemented and the medium-term sustainability of actions undertaken within the projects.

The seminar concluded with complementary collaborations, including support from UN agencies for students’ dissertations, field project visits, and internship opportunities for students.