The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a €73.27 million loan to Equatorial Guinea to finance the first phase of the country’s Human Capital Development Project in Support of Economic and Social Inclusion (PARCH 1). The five-year initiative (2025–2030) is designed to tackle rising youth unemployment by improving vocational training and expanding access to jobs, particularly for women, while promoting private sector-led growth, a statement from the bank said on Tuesday. PARCH 1 is anchored on three pillars: upgrading vocational training to align with high-growth value chains; promoting youth and women’s employment through a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem and wider inclusion; and improving project management and partnerships. Equatorial Guinea is battling a youth unemployment rate of 23.5 percent, with the rate among women at 26.7 percent. The AfDB said the new programme will help bridge these gaps by reducing unemployment, improving economic inclusion, and fostering social stability, especially in Bioko Sur and Welé-Nzas.