President Barrow awards over GMD 396M in TVET scholarships to boost youth employment

In a landmark move to strengthen technical and vocational education, President Adama Barrow presided over the award ceremony for Window 2 of the Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund.

The initiative, backed by the Gambian government in collaboration with the World Bank and the RISE Project, is designed to equip young people with essential skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

A total of 1,087 scholarships were awarded to students across 25 public and private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, amounting to GMD 396,761,321.50. The package includes a $400 tuition and stipend per student, along with transportation and accommodation support for those studying at regional TVET centres.

Speaking at the event, President Barrow emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that at least 80% of the scholarship beneficiaries secure employment after completing their training.

“The government will institute a rigorous monitoring mechanism to make sure there is an 80% employability rate among the student beneficiaries to ensure that the project targets are met,” he declared, underlining his administration’s focus on reducing youth and women unemployment.

Beyond scholarships, President Barrow announced plans to enhance The Gambia’s TVET ecosystem through two additional funding windows:

• Window 1 – Infrastructure and Equipment Development: “My administration will soon launch Window One (1) of the Fund. This Window will provide grants for TVET institutions to get high-quality infrastructure and equipment. The objective of the support is to improve the technical and teaching capacity of vocational training centres.”
• Window 3 – Startup Support and Mentorship: “Window Three (3) will be launched to provide startup support and mentorship for the youth during the last quarter of 2025. The three Windows are meant to raise The Gambia’s TVET programmes to the right quality levels that match our labour market requirements.”

The SIE Fund is part of a broader strategy to align TVET training with industry needs, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship while creating sustainable job opportunities. With these initiatives, the Gambian government aims to empower youth, enhance economic productivity, and bridge the skills gap in critical sectors.