Head of Cooperation of the European Union in The Gambia has stated that the EU is proud to support the ‘Boosting Gambian Talents project’, through which the Union seeks to foster economic opportunities, inclusion, innovation through entrepreneurship development, enabling job creation as a pathway to sustainable economic development.
Enrica Pellacani was speaking on Thursday during a day’s stakeholder forum on ‘Boosting Gambian Talents Project’, funded by the European Union and implemented by Belgian Agency for International Cooperation (Enabel).
"Today, we gather not just to talk about entrepreneurship, but to share the vision of the Boosting Gambian Talents Project, funded by the European Union and implemented by Enabel,” he said. “The Theory of Change workshop that will follow is an important project milestone for jointly shaping of our aspirations to create opportunities in The Gambia and make migration a choice for the people of The Gambia."
She described the initiative as one of three under ‘our Flexible Mechanism for Migration and Forced Displacement’ to support migration governance.
She noted that a key path to achieving the objectives of the project is through partnerships, building of bridges between Gambian, Belgian and European entrepreneurial ecosystems.
She also talked about the EU- Gambia cooperation, which she said, is based on a comprehensive approach and also includes mobility and legal pathways.
"We believe that empowering young people with skills, networks, and opportunities is key to addressing the root causes of irregular migration. Through the Boosting Gambian Talents project, we aim to turn mobility into a positive force, one that drives entrepreneurship, strengthens institutions, and builds resilient communities. We wish to support legal migration for the benefit of Europe and The Gambia," she stated.
In that context, the EU head of Cooperation highlighted two important aspects: firstly, while the scope of this project (in terms of objectives and expected results) has already been defined and cannot be changed, the project outline is the result of co-creation with the Gambian partners.
"Secondly, this project is a journey; while the final destination is known, how the project will reach it is what this workshop is about. It is a common journey. Our approach to cooperation with The Gambia is a collaborative effort that brings together government, civil society, private sector, and youth voices."
