By Binta Jaiteh
President Adama Barrow on Tuesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), saying the country’s future depends on equipping young people with the skills and opportunities needed to drive economic growth and employment.
Speaking at the second Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund Awards Ceremony under the Resilience, Inclusive Skills and Employment (RISE) Project, Barrow described TVET as a critical pillar for employment creation, enterprise development, industrialization and social inclusion.
He said the SIE Fund, established under the World Bank-funded RISE Project and implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), was designed to strengthen TVET institutions, expand access to quality and market-relevant skills training, and promote innovation and entrepreneurship among young people and women.
“The future of The Gambia depends largely on the scope, mix and quality of skills, knowledge and opportunities available to our young people,” Barrow said.
He announced that 25 TVET institutions had been awarded GMD33,858,708.24 under Window One of the SIE Fund to improve infrastructure, equipment, governance systems, programme quality and institutional performance.
In addition, 18 institutions will receive GMD49,956,000 under Window Two to provide labour market-oriented training programmes for young people and women.
The two funding windows amount to a total investment of GMD83,814,708.24 aimed at expanding access to skills training and improving the quality of technical and vocational education across the country.
Barrow recalled that the first round of SIE Fund grants, awarded in February 2025, provided GMD30,870,800 to 25 TVET institutions to enrol 1,087 students in demand-driven certificate and diploma programmes.
He said the intervention had achieved an 80 percent completion rate, with positive outcomes in employment and business creation among beneficiaries.
The President commended the transparent selection process undertaken by the SIE Fund Secretariat, the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), the Technical Advisory Committee and the Project Steering Committee, noting that the World Bank had issued a “No Objection” to the process.
He said the grants would enable beneficiary institutions to modernise training facilities, upgrade equipment, strengthen governance systems and expand accredited programmes in priority sectors, including agribusiness, information and communication technology, engineering, tourism, business, and arts and crafts.
Barrow urged beneficiary institutions to use the funds responsibly, describing the grants as public investments in the future of the country.
He also encouraged TVET providers to strengthen partnerships with industry and employers to improve graduate employability and support enterprise development.
The President further announced the launch of the call for proposals under Window Three of the SIE Fund, which aims to support the establishment of 75 start-up businesses each year.
He said the initiative would help young Gambians transform acquired skills into sustainable businesses and employment opportunities.
Barrow reaffirmed his government’s commitment to working with development partners, the private sector and training institutions to ensure that investments in education and skills development translate into measurable economic and social benefits.
He thanked the World Bank and other partners for supporting the RISE Project and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s skills development agenda.
The President officially declared the second SIE Fund Awards Ceremony open.