The project will support entrepreneurship by providing equipment, support services, and market access techniques to help launch and develop profitable and sustainable businesses.
A new flagship initiative by the African Development Bank focused on promoting empowerment through welfare services, entrepreneurial support, and business skills development is expected to impact thousands of vulnerable youth and women in Gambia.
Representatives from the Gambian government and the African Development Bank Group launched the Vulnerable Youth and Women Support Project in Banjul on October 22, 2024. Funded with $14.7 million by the Bank and its partners in Gambia, the project will establish vocational training programs to equip youth and women with relevant skills in agriculture and agribusiness sectors.
The project will support entrepreneurship by providing equipment, support services, and market access techniques to help launch and develop profitable and sustainable businesses. It will also rehabilitate and equip health facilities and establish services to promote emotional and social resilience, enabling beneficiaries to access appropriate health services.
The Vulnerable Youth and Women Support Project is funded by a $6.65 million grant from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional window, $7.12 million from the MRC Holland Foundation, and a $930,000 contribution from the Gambian government.
Gambia’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Ms. Fatou Kinteh, representing Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow, stated that the Gambian government is committed to social equity, particularly for youth and women, who face higher levels of vulnerability and economic instability.
“We firmly believe that true development can only be achieved when no one is left behind”
“[This] marks another significant milestone in our shared journey toward building a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous Gambia. I am honored to stand before you as we launch the Vulnerable Youth and Women Support Project, a game-changing initiative aimed at helping those who face the greatest barriers to opportunity in our country,” she said.
The project is expected to reach 2,500 women and youth. At least 1,000 of these beneficiaries will receive support to start businesses and create jobs in their communities. Improved access to basic social and health services resulting from the project’s implementation is expected to benefit more than 82,000 people, at least half of whom are women.
The Bank’s Country Manager for Gambia and Deputy Director General for West Africa, Joseph Ribeiro, who participated in the ceremony online, said the project aligns with Gambia’s National Development Plan and the Bank’s broader agenda to strengthen local community resilience. He expressed optimism that the project will create sustainable economic opportunities and enable beneficiaries to overcome socio-economic barriers.
“At the African Development Bank, our mission is to drive sustainable economic development and social progress on our continent. We firmly believe that true development can only be achieved when no one is left behind — when opportunities are provided to every young person aspiring for a better future and every woman who wishes to make a difference in her community,” he emphasized.
The project will be deployed in rural areas of Janjanbureh, Kuntaur, and Lower local government areas — identified as among the most vulnerable in Gambia. At least 93.8% of rural households are considered vulnerable in Gambia. The project, which began in June 2024, will continue until June 2027.
Since beginning operations in Gambia in 1974, the African Development Bank Group has invested more than $456 million in public sector infrastructure projects in agriculture, industry, water and sanitation, energy, transport, governance, and the social sector — primarily education and health.