Can sport create new opportunities for Djibouti’s youth

Djibouti, 2 September 2026 (ECA) - For young people in Djibouti, sporting skills and passion could translate into new professional opportunities.

Those opportunities extend beyond professional athletes to coaching, education, management, marketing, events and entrepreneurship.

This was among the areas discussed when a delegation from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) visited IFM-Sport Djibouti on 31 August. The delegation was led by Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of the Socio-Economic Development Division.

IFM-Sport is Djibouti's first specialized institute dedicated to training and professionalization in sport.

The visit was part of ongoing consultations for ECA's Economic Report on Africa 2027, titled Shaping Africa's Future of Work: Youth Employment, Growth and Fiscal Resilience.

Discussions with IFM-Sport Director Mohamed Osman Abdourahman and his team focused on the institute's efforts to turn sporting skills and passion into professional opportunities, including through youth employability, sports entrepreneurship and new career pathways.

The ECA delegation also met young footballers at the institute who spoke about their ambitions to pursue professional careers and potentially compete internationally.

Djibouti has also been investing in the development of its sports sector and in opportunities for young athletes. In football, for example, the country is one of 10 in Africa with an operational FIFA Talent Academy, supported by a development network reaching around 300 children across six regional centres.

But building a sports economy means looking beyond the athletes themselves. Coaches, educators, managers and administrators are needed, alongside businesses working in areas such as talent representation, marketing, sponsorship and event management.

These are among the opportunities that could widen the range of careers available to young people through sport.

There is also a gender dimension. In separate discussions with the Ministry of Women and the Family, the ECA delegation explored the importance of expanding economic opportunities for young women.

The visit to IFM-Sport highlighted how sport could provide additional opportunities for girls and young women, while developing confidence, teamwork and leadership.

At a continental level, the sports economy accounts for only about 0.5 per cent of Africa's GDP, compared with a global average of approximately 2 per cent, pointing to considerable room for growth.

Sport can generate jobs, businesses and value added across training, health and well-being, events, tourism and infrastructure. For Djibouti, this presents opportunities to build on the passion, talent and skills that already exist among its young people.

Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: [email protected]