In The Gambia, youth entrepreneurship has continued to gain momentum, attracting increasing numbers of youth across the country as a means to addressing unemployment and foster economic development.
Initiatives such as The Gambia Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) and the Tekki Fii initiative provide training, funding and support to young entrepreneurs.
These programmes focus on building entrepreneurial skills, providing access to finance, and connecting young business owners with markets and opportunities.
The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), the European Union and the Tekki Fii initiative are prime examples of how international organizations and the Gambian government are working together to empower young entrepreneurs.
Many initiatives prioritize sectors like agriculture, agro-processing, tourism and digital economy, reflecting the country's economic landscape and potential. Efforts are being made to address challenges faced by young entrepreneurs, such as limited access to finance, lack of training, and inadequate infrastructure.
Several young Gambian entrepreneurs have achieved notable success, including fashion designers, restaurateurs, real estate developers and photographers.
The programmes are set to create economic opportunities at home, as the initiatives aim to reduce the pressure on young people to migrate in search of better prospects.
The Gambia Entrepreneurship Programme offers online courses to equip young entrepreneurs with essential business skills.
Schemes launched by NACCUG provide financial support and mentorship to help young entrepreneurs establish and grow their businesses.
Meanwhile, The Gambia has several initiatives focused on youth enterprise and entrepreneurship, primarily aimed at addressing the root causes of irregular migration and promoting economic development.
The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), funded by the European Union, is a key programme that supports youth employment and entrepreneurship, focusing on improving employability, creating income opportunities, and connecting young entrepreneurs to trade and the digital economy.
YEP utilizes a market-led approach to skill development and job creation, aligning training with the demands of the job market and supporting the growth of micro and small enterprises, while focusing on traditional sectors like agriculture and tourism.
YEP also supports "new" promising sectors like creative and digital industries. YEP has been instrumental in creating jobs and providing vocational training to young Gambians.
It has also provided mini-grants to young entrepreneurs to start or expand their businesses, with examples like poultry farming and catering businesses.
A core objective of these initiatives is to create opportunities at home, reducing the incentive for young people to migrate irregularly.
The GYCC - Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce - is actively involved in supporting youth-led initiatives and innovation-driven growth.
The National Youth Policy of The Gambia (2019-2028) provides a strategic framework for youth empowerment and integration into national development.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) are actively involved in supporting youth entrepreneurship.
Despite these efforts, youth unemployment remains a challenge in The Gambia, with rates around 10.92% in 2024.
