JOB CREATION AND PROSPERITY IN THE GAMBIA

THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT

2017 UNPSA, 22-23 June, the Hague, Netherlands

The Gambia

The YEP Approach Incl. key challenge & recommendation

Questions

The Gambia – An Overview

• Population figures: How many people

1.99 million people

The Gambia – Key Issues

Low income

GDP per capita of USD 471

High unemployment

Unemployment of 30%

Youth unemployment of 38%

Youth bulge

36% of the population is aged 15-35

Irregular Migration

In 2014, 0.5% of the

population sought asylum in Italy

The YEP Approach – An Overview

Matching market

needs with youth

interests

Addressing

complementary

needs

Driven by

complementary

stakeholders

Maximising impact and sustainability

Creating attractive decent jobs for youths

The YEP Approach

Matching market needs with youth interests

Focus on opportunities within value chains that

are interesting to youth

Private sector

focus

Youth interests International &

domestic market

opportunities

The YEP Approach

Example: Farming as a business

The YEP Approach

Driven by complementary

stakeholders

Sustainable jobs and

empowered entrepreneurs

Driven by youth

Implemented by

local institutions

In coordination with

several ministries

Creating jobs in value chains

Providing access to

finance

Enhancing employability

of youths

Addressing

complementary needs

2017 UNPSA, 22-23 June, the Hague, Netherlands

The YEP Approach

Challenge: Intergenerational Dialogue

Context: Youth &

trade roadmaps in

priority sectors

Stakeholder

consultations and

PPD

Question to the Forum:

What are innovative/ effective

ways to facilitate this dialogue and to create consensus across

generations?

Tensions between the

young and the elder

The YEP Approach

Recommendation: Governance

Youth involvement in decision-making bodies (e.g. project steering committee)

is crucial for a project focusing on youth empowerment & job creation

Questions