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Empowering young Gambians through entrepreneurship

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The Gambia Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) addresses the economic root causes of irregular migration by supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship. The six-year project started in January 2017 and is funded by the European Union (EU) Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa (EUTF for Africa).

Entity

United Nations system entity
  • Technical assistance, expertise and implementation

Partners

  • European Union

    Financial and/or in-kind contribution

  • Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment of the Republic of The Gambia

    Technical assistance, expertise and implementation
    Policy, advocacy and convening power
    Financial and/or in-kind contribution

  • Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of The Gambia

    Technical assistance, expertise and implementation

Sustainable Development Goals & targets

  • 8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
  • 4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

Themes

  • Quality apprenticeships
  • Transitions to the formal economy
  • Youth entrepreneurship and self-employment

Achievement At Glance

Key progress has been registered in agriculture and access to finance (minigrants and miniloan) schemes offered to youth. Employment in the skills training has been impressive with over 50% employablility of graduates.

Key Highlight On Guiding Principle

  • Focus on the creation of decent jobs and the improvement of the quality of work
  • Multi-dimensional and multi-sectional approach
  • Involvement of organizations representing the interests of young people

Description

YEP takes a market-led approach to improving the skills and employability of potential and returning migrants according to demands of the job market. ITC works with training institutions to enhance the institutional capacities and improve the service offering to youth. YEP also develops partnerships between industry and training institutions will help to keep up with changing market needs. Entrepreneurship is promoted among youth through business skills training and support programmes. Targeted business support services are also provided to improve the performance and growth of youth-owned businesses. Simultaneously, YEP seeks to create employment opportunities along Gambian value chains. Through developing enterprises and the Gambian private sector as a whole the project aims to provide more and better quality jobs for youth. The project concentrates on sectors that have largest potential for employment creation, such as agribusiness, services and tourism. Thriving agribusiness and service sectors offer job opportunities and lucrative career options. Taking a value chain approach the project focuses on integrating micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to value chains and connect them to markets

https://www.yep.gm/

Deliverables and links to SDG targets

  • 4300
    Jobs created for young people, including through subsidized employment and entrepreneurship
    8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

    Create jobs for young Gambians

    BY:
    Dec 2020
  • 5350
    Young people trained in relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, ICT skills and soft skills
    8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

    Young Gambians have improved skills to meet the job market requirements

    BY:
    Dec 2020
  • 4600
    Young people supported through entrepreneurship training, advisory services, access to markets or access to finance
    4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

    Young Gambians are aware of the importance of financial management

    BY:
    Dec 2020
Gambia (Republic of The)

Start

1-Feb-2017

End

31-Dec-2022

$ 12775842

Estimated total value of the commitment

11115

young people to benefit directly from this commitment

Target: 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-35

Primarily:
  • Young people in urban areas
  • Young people in rural areas
  • Young women
  • Young men
  • Young people with low levels of education and/or drop-outs

Challenges faced in implementation

Challenges include difficulty in reaching remote communities and increase the number of women in traditional skills training areas. We have more than twice the demand for our minigrants than can be catered only supported about 600 out of over 1400 applicants. Limited resources to provide more toolkits to youth who havee been trained to enhance self-employment outcomes.

Gallery

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