African Development Bank Group LIVING IN ABIDJAN Human Resources Department 1 LIVING IN ABIDJAN July 2016 Human Resources Department 2 Preface 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................7 1.1. Purpose of this handbook ....................................................................................................7 1.1. Key contacts for Social and Recreational Activities ...........................................................7 PART 1: ............................................................................................................................................9 GENERAL INFORMATION ON COTE D’IVOIRE ..................................................................9 1. Country Profile .........................................................................................................................10 1.1. Map ....................................................................................................................................10 1.2. General Information ..........................................................................................................11 PART 2: ..........................................................................................................................................13 LIVING IN ABIDJAN ...................................................................................................................13 1. PROTOCOL ISSUES ...............................................................................................................14 1.1 Entry ..................................................................................................................................14 1.2 Work permits .....................................................................................................................14 1.3 Spouse Employment ..........................................................................................................15 2. ABIDJAN PROFILE ................................................................................................................16 2.1 Greater Abidjan .................................................................................................................16 2.2. Abidjan Climate ................................................................................................................16 3. BANKING ................................................................................................................................17 3.1 Local Banking ...................................................................................................................17 3.2 Credit card use ...................................................................................................................23 4. HOUSING ................................................................................................................................23 4.1 Renting or Buying .............................................................................................................24 4.2 General terms and conditions for rentals:..........................................................................24 General terms and conditions for purchase: .................................................................................24 4.3 Estate Agencies: ................................................................................................................25 4.4 Contact information for some listed developers in Côte d’Ivoire: ....................................26 4.5 Useful information on Short–term Housing, Hotels/lodges, Furniture and Appliances and Property insurance ........................................................................................................................27 4.6 Utilities: Connection procedures: ......................................................................................32 4.7 Pets ....................................................................................................................................36 5. EDUCATION ...........................................................................................................................36 5.1 Availability of Educational Facilities ................................................................................36 5.2 Schools ..............................................................................................................................37 5.2.1 French Education System...........................................................................................37 5.2.2 English Education System .........................................................................................39 4 5.2.3 General Admission Requirements .............................................................................39 5.2.4 Schools for Children with Special Needs ..................................................................40 5.2.5 Boarding Schools .......................................................................................................40 5.2.6 Tertiary education ......................................................................................................40 6.1 Health System....................................................................................................................41 6.2 GMC Network Service Providers (See Annex B) .............................................................41 6.3 Health Information and advice ..........................................................................................41 DISEASE CONTROL: PREVENTIVE MEASURES ................................................................41 6.4.1 Information Package for Departing Groups (See Annex C) .... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.4.2 Package of Services Offered by Medical Centre Information for Departing Groups Error! Bookmark not defined. 7. SECURITY ...........................................................................................................................44 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE ...............................................................................................46 1. RELIGIOUS/SPIRTUAL ACTIVIES ......................................................................................47 1.1 Churches ............................................................................................................................47 1.2 Mosques.............................................................................................................................47 1.2 Tourism ...............................................................................................................................1 1.3 National Parks .....................................................................................................................1 1. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT ..............................................................................................2 Festivals – Film/Music/Dance/Fashion ..........................................................................................4 2.6 Restaurants in Abidjan ........................................................................................................6 2.7 Nightlife...............................................................................................................................9 2.8 Shopping ............................................................................................................................10 3. SPORTS /CLUBS/LIFESTYLE ...............................................................................................11 3.1 Fitness Centers ..................................................................................................................11 3.2 Professional/Sports clubs ..................................................................................................12 3.3 Fitness subsidy ..................................................................................................................12 4. CHILDCARE AND HOUSEHOLD STAFF ...........................................................................12 4.1 Childcare ...........................................................................................................................12 4.2 Children’s activities ...........................................................................................................13 4.3 Domestic staff....................................................................................................................15 4. TRANSPORTATION...............................................................................................................15 4.1 Trains .................................................................................................................................15 4.2 Taxis ..................................................................................................................................15 4.3 Buses and boat buses .........................................................................................................16 5 4.4 Vehicle, buying, rental, registration and insurance ...........................................................16 ANNEXES Annex A: Abidjan Suburbs Annex B: Towns near Abidjan Annex C: Embassies and Consulates Annex D: GMC Network Service Providers and List of Specialists and Hospitals Annex E: Some Useful Contacts Annex F: Health Information and Services 6 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Purpose of this handbook