The Gambia Apprenticeship Opportunities and the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP)

Youth Empowerment Project (YEP); Youth unemployment remains one of the major development challenges in The Gambia. Limited job opportunities, skills gaps, and economic pressures have made it difficult for many young people to secure stable livelihoods. In response to these challenges, the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) was launched to address the economic root causes of unemployment by increasing job opportunities and improving income prospects for young Gambians.

Established in 2017, the Youth Empowerment Project plays a key role in supporting The Gambia’s economic development. Its primary goal is to improve the employability of the country’s youth, with a special focus on potential and returning migrants. By offering practical skills, entrepreneurship support, and market access, YEP helps young people build sustainable careers and contribute meaningfully to national development.

 

One of YEP’s core strengths is its emphasis on skills development and vocational training. The project provides young people with access to apprenticeship programs and hands-on training opportunities that match real labor market needs. This approach ensures that participants gain relevant, in-demand skills that increase their chances of securing decent employment or starting their own businesses.

Beyond traditional training, YEP also supports self-employment and entrepreneurship. Young people receive guidance on creating and growing micro and small enterprises, helping them turn ideas into viable businesses. This focus on entrepreneurship not only creates jobs for individuals but also stimulates local economic growth.

YEP adopts a market-led approach, meaning that employment opportunities are developed in line with actual market demand. Instead of offering generic training, the project carefully analyses labour market trends and works with private sector actors to ensure that youth skills align with employer needs. This strategy helps reduce the mismatch between education and employment while improving workforce productivity.

The project focuses on strengthening traditional sectors such as agriculture and tourism, which are vital to The Gambia’s economy. These sectors offer significant employment potential, particularly in rural areas, and play an important role in food security and tourism-driven income.

At the same time, YEP actively supports the diversification of the Gambian economy. It invests in “new” and promising sectors, including the creative industries and digital services. These emerging sectors offer fresh opportunities for young people, especially those interested in innovation, technology, and creative expression.

By supporting value addition and internationalization in selected sectors, YEP helps young entrepreneurs access larger markets beyond local communities. This focus on growth-oriented enterprises strengthens competitiveness and encourages long-term sustainability. As a result, young people are better positioned to generate stable incomes and reduce economic vulnerability.

YEP’s holistic approach recognizes that youth empowerment goes beyond employment alone. By combining skills training, entrepreneurship support, and market access, the project creates an enabling environment where young people can thrive economically and socially.

The Youth Empowerment Project is implemented by the International Trade Center (ITC) in close collaboration with key national institutions. These include the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) of the Republic of The Gambia. This strong partnership ensures alignment with national development priorities and maximizes the project’s impact. Through coordinated efforts, YEP supports policy development, strengthens institutions, and ensures that youth-focused initiatives are sustainable over the long term.

The project has several activities running in the country, and thus, one may wish to contact them. For more information about the Youth Empowerment Project, interested individuals and organizations can reach out through the following channels:

Phone:
+41 22 730 0398
+220 449 7942

Email:
yep@intracen.org