The Gambia Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) addresses the economic root causes of irregular migration by supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship. The six-year project started in January 2017 and is funded by the European Union (EU) Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa (EUTF for Africa).

YEP takes a market-led approach to improving the skills and employability of potential and returning migrants according to demands of the job market. ITC works with training institutions to enhance the institutional capacities and improve the service offering to youth. YEP also develops partnerships between industry and training institutions will help to keep up with changing market needs. Entrepreneurship is promoted among youth through business skills training and support programmes. Targeted business support services are also provided to improve the performance and growth of youth-owned businesses. Simultaneously, YEP seeks to create employment opportunities along Gambian value chains. Through developing enterprises and the Gambian private sector as a whole the project aims to provide more and better quality jobs for youth. The project concentrates on sectors that have largest potential for employment creation, such as agribusiness, services and tourism. Thriving agribusiness and service sectors offer job opportunities and lucrative career options. Taking a value chain approach the project focuses on integrating micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to value chains and connect them to markets

International Trade Centre (ITC); European Union; Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment of the Republic of The Gambia; Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of The Gambia