By Kumba Leigh
The Gambia Government has recently launched the ‘Vulnerable Youth and Women Support Project, worth 7 million US Dollars, to support most vulnerable groups, including young women, out-of-school youth, and rural communities. The African Development Bank-funded project focuses on skills enhancement, creating job opportunities, improving access to quality healthcare infrastructure, and youth and women employment. In her remarks during the launch of the initiative, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Fatou Sanyang Kinteh, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, pointed out that The Gambia has been faced with numerous challenges; from economic volatility to the impact of global crises, such as COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These events, she noted, “have highlighted the fragility of the socio-economic systems, but more importantly, they have underscored the resilience of the people, particularly the youth and women”. She submitted that 65% of Gambia’s population is under 24 years old, “with many facing the harsh realities of unemployment, underemployment, and limited access to basic services, and that women make a significant portion of the workforce, and remained at the forefront of these challenges; especially in rural areas, where access to quality health, education and employment opportunities remains limited”.
The minister explained that the project has been funded through the Transition Support Facility Grants. She reiterated that the project is designed to tackle the multi-dimensional nature of poverty in The Gambia in ensuring that they not only create opportunities for economic empowerment, but also provide access to essential social services such as health and education. She further indicated that the initiative is closely aligned with the AfDB’s Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2021-2025, specifically targeting the priority area of modernising agricultural value chains for inclusive growth; as well as the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (NDP) 2023-2027, and the National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) 2015-2025, with the goal of building human capital and promoting inclusive development. Minister Sanyang Kinteh went on to explain that the project is built on three fundamental pillars that reflect both the technical and political commitment of the government to reducing poverty, strengthening social protection systems and empowering those most in need, especially in the areas of employment; access to basic services, and institutional strengthening and sustainability.
Saikou JK. Trawally, Deputy Permanent Secretary Technical, Office of the Vice President, underscored the significance of the project. He said it represents a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by some of the most marginalised. He revealed that the issues the project seeks to address have been identified in the Gambia Fragility Assessment, and are found to have been significant contributors to the country’s fragility, driving many, especially the youth, to embark on dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities abroad. He there noted that the initiative marks a pivotal moment in the collective efforts to uplift and empower these members of the society. “The project has been designed with the objective of breaking barriers, providing not just a helping hand, but also the tools and opportunities necessary to foster sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance, by targeting capacity-building, financial support, and access to resources and services to empowering vulnerable women and youths in ensuring that they become active participants in driving Gambia’s development agenda forward,” DPS Trawally further remarked. He finally thanked the AfDB for its unwavering commitment to supporting The Gambia’s development agenda.
