The International Trade Centre (ITC) launched the second round of the Skills for Youth Employment (SkYE) Fund to increase technical and vocational skills training opportunities for 1,600 Gambian youth and women. The second edition of the Fund was launched on 20th June 2019 and is open for applications from interested training institutions, private sector companies and industry associations to provide training for youth, employment and finance to support their growth.

The second round of the SkYE Fund is an initiative funded by the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) together with the Jobs, Skills and Finance for Youth and Women (JSF). The first round of the SkYE Fund has started in 2018 and enrolled over 900 young Gambians in technical skills training programmes.

The SkYE Fund is a results-based competitive funding model that ensures the importance of linking skills training programmes with employment or self-employment outcomes. Results-based funding approaches to implement TVET programmes is widely recognized to be a success in creating employment for young people in countries with large informal sectors and micro businesses.

The total financial volume available is USD 395,000 which is approximately GMD 20 million. The SkYE Fund will provide funding to technical and vocational education training (TVET) institutions, local private sector companies and industry associations to train Gambian youth in the skills needed in the labour market. The training programmes that will be supported under the SkYE Fund will need to meet an identified skill shortage and lead to work or to the establishment of small viable businesses. Furthermore, disbursement of funds will be carried out in a systematic manner while promoting transparency, policy alignment and innovation in training delivery in The Gambia.

The expression of interest for the fund is open until the 30th of June 2019. All interested Gambian institutions are invited to check www.yep.gm/opportunities and contact ITC Procurement Services to receive the full documentation package for applications.

The applicants to the SkYE Fund will need to show evidence of employer support for proposed training programmes and how the curriculum meets the skills shortages. The Skills for Youth Employment Fund is designed to assist young people in The Gambia gain employment or pursue self-employment within The Gambia.