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Gâ
mbia/ President Barrow Awards GMD 83.8 Million SIE Fund Grants to Boost TVET Skills Development

Bissau, 30 jul 26 (ANG) – O President Adama Barrow on Tuesday 29th July 2026 awarded more than GMD 83.8 million in grants to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under the Skills Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund, in a move aimed at strengthening skills delivery, expanding training opportunities, and empowering young people and women across The Gambia.

The ceremony, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, was organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) under the World Bank-funded Resilience, Inclusive Skills and Employment (RISE) Project.

The funding, distributed through two key windows of the SIE Fund, will support institutions to improve infrastructure, acquire modern equipment, enhance programme quality, and deliver labour-market-oriented training.

Addressing the gathering, President Barrow said the future of The Gambia depends largely on the quality of skills, knowledge and opportunities available to its young people. He described Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a critical pillar for employment creation, enterprise development, industrial growth and social inclusion.

He said the Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund is a strategic investment designed to strengthen TVET institutions, expand access to quality and market-driven skills training, and promote innovation and entrepreneurship among young people and women.

The President noted that the initiative directly addresses one of the country’s most pressing challenges by equipping young Gambians with practical skills to secure employment, establish businesses and contribute to national transformation.

Under Window One, 25 TVET institutions received 33,858,708.24 for institutional improvement initiatives, including upgrading infrastructure, improving governance systems, enhancing equipment, and strengthening training programmes. Two, 18 institutions received 49,956,000.00 under Window Two to provide skills training for young people and women in programmes aligned with labour-market demands.

President Barrow said the awards build on the first round of grants issued in February 2025, when 25 institutions received over D30 million to enrol 1,087 students in demand-driven certificate and diploma programmes.

He said the grants would enable institutions to improve workshops, strengthen management systems and expand accredited programmes in priority sectors, including agribusiness, information and communication technology, engineering, tourism, arts and crafts, and business.

The President urged beneficiary institutions to use the funds responsibly, describing them as public investments in the future of the Gambian people.

The ceremony also launched the Call for Proposals under Window Three of the SIE Fund, which aims to support the establishment of 75 start-up businesses annually. President Barrow stressed that skills development must be linked to entrepreneurship and innovation to create sustainable employment opportunities.

“My government will continue to support initiatives that move young people from training to work, from ideas to enterprise, and from vulnerability to productivity and dignity,” he said.

Representing the World Bank, Dr Franklin Mutahakana described the awards as evidence of The Gambia’s growing commitment to investing in its youthful population, noting that young people account for about 63 per cent of the country’s population. He said the initiative would create opportunities for youth to acquire practical skills, improve productivity and enhance their employability.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, student representative Mathew Badjie thanked the Government and the World Bank for investing in young people. He said the programme has already had a positive impact on many students and pledged that beneficiary would honour the investment through hard work, innovation and service to the nation.

The investment reflects government’s commitment to strengthening TVET as a key pathway for addressing youth unemployment, promoting innovation, and building a skilled workforce capable of driving The Gambia’s socio-economic transformation.

ANG/ Gambia Daily