Gambia
Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) addresses the economic root causes of irregular
migration by supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship.
The
project takes a market-led approach to improving the skills and employability
of potential and returning migrants according to demands of the job market and
simultaneously creating employment opportunities along Gambian value
chains.
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.
In
2015, the European Commission launched an “Emergency Trust Fund for stability
and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in
Africa”, consisting of EUR1.8 billion from the EU budget and the European
Development Fund (EDF), to be complemented by contributions from EU Member
States and other donors.
Youth
Empowerment Project (YEP) also takes a market-led approach and sets out to
strengthen existing youth development systems, structures and services to
create employment opportunities. It
aimed at scaling up skills among youth in the workforce in response to market
demands.
The
project offers possibilities for youths interested in moving into the
commercial agriculture, service business or tourism sectors.
Existing
technical and vocational skills programmes are strengthened to better match the
needs of businesses.
YEP
builds partnerships between training institutions and industry associations and
assist in the development of their programmes.
The effectiveness of learning is increased by adopting accessible and
flexible learning models and tools.
The
project encourages entrepreneurship among youth through business skills
training and support programmes. It
targeted business support services; help to improve performance and growth of
youth-owned businesses.
The
project builds the capacities of MSMEs in different food-related sectors such
as food processing, hotels and restaurants to comply with quality and food
safety requirements.
YEP
supports development of sectors such as IT, handicraft & fashion and
tourism to offer better opportunities to youth leaving the rural areas in
search of nonagricultural jobs.
Source-YEP
