To reduce migration pressures in the Gambia, YEP:
- strengthens existing youth and entrepreneurship support structures;
- partners with domestic and international skills development institutions;
- works hand in hand with private sector partners to develop the local economy and enhance employability and self-employment opportunities for youth; and
- coordinates awareness raising campaigns with several stakeholders about the opportunities for youth population in The Gambia as alternatives to migration.
YEP focuses on vocational training and support for micro and small-sized enterprises and creates new jobs in selected sectors through value addition and internationalization.
The five-year project funded by the European Union (EU) Emergency Trust Fund for stability started in January 2017. The total budget for the project is EUR 13 million.
Employability and entrepreneurship
Training institutions are supported in their offering development and management. 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.
Employment opportunities along 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.
Broad communication of the program “Tekki fii – Make it here - Make it in The Gambia”
The “Make it in The Gambia – Tekki Fii” is a multi-stakeholder initiative to improve economic development and future prospects for The Gambia’s youth, including returning and/or potential migrants by promoting attractive employment and income opportunities, and to support the Government in its attempt to nurture perception shift for the Gambian population moving away from a ‘future through migration’ to a ‘future in The New Gambia’.
For more information about the activities of the project, please visit: https://www.yep.gm/