Highlight

• How can non-state actors harness youth potential in local and national development?
• SOS The Gambia assigned Ultimate Partners (UPi) to conduct a baseline study of the Youth Employment Project.

The Challenge

With a population of 1,882,450 people (2013 Population and Housing Survey), the share of youth aged 13-30 years continues to grow. It is 36.7 percent of the total population; females represent 38.5 percent and males 34.8 percent. The growing youthful population of The Gambia raises the questions of employment and assurance of a decent standard of living for all. Consequently, the SOS Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) in Lower River Region (LRR), Centre River Region (CRR), and Upper River Region (URR) of The Gambia aim at addressing youth vulnerability as barriers to proper integration into their communities.

The Approach

UPi’s task was to conduct a baseline assessment of SOS YEP indicators, including youth vulnerability indicators, and identification of achievements and challenges in key youth intervention areas such as skills training, entrepreneurship, access to finance, and Sexual and Reproductive Health Information. Further, the assessment sought to provide technical advice on the inclusion of market-relevant technical skills, employment, and social and life skills indicators as a means of identifying vulnerable youths.

The Results

• Baseline data collected on some 40 indicators involving skills training; entrepreneurship; access to finance; Information, Education, Communication, and Advocacy, as well as access to sexual and reproductive health
• 19 indicators developed for the assessment of youth vulnerability
• Developed monitoring and evaluation framework to enhance YEP results-based management.