By Alpha Abu
An initiative to get young people gainfully engaged in income generating schemes has been launched by the German Cooperation (GIZ) and partners at a well attended event at the Radisson Blu hotel in Freetown.
The fourth phase of the Employment Promotion Programme (EPP) from August 2020 to April 2024 will see 22 Million Euros expended in various programmes that will capacitate the youths in Life skills training and other livelihood induced ventures in the four districts of Kono, Koinadugu, Kailahun and Falaba. The European Union (EU) is providing the funds for the project that is being implemented by GIZ.
EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Tom Vens in his statement underscored the importance of human capital development which he said is fundamental in promoting economic growth and sustainable development and which is at the centre of the Union’s objectives. He said to earn a decent living in Sierra Leone can be difficult with 90 percent of jobs are self- employed and in the informal sector. He acknowledged the high unemployment rate and low income and the lack of entrepreneurial skills that reduce the prospects of self-employment and inaccessibility to micro-finance.
He said with GIZ’s experience with Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) around the world, they cannot afford to fail in the programme that is not only supported by the EU but also the German government. The EU ambassador said job creation should be the key focus of the programme or their efforts would be futile. He said the private sector is at the heart of the jobs programme and skills that meet the demands of the job market are important for the development of the country. The German Ambassador to Sierra Leone Horst Gruner in a brief statement affirmed his government’s support to the GIZ operations in the country.
GIZ’s key intervention areas are in skills development, support to micro, small and medium enterprises, financial and in kind support and integration of practical experiences in training and demand- oriented adaptation to the vocational education training.
The four districts were selected due to the lack of job opportunities for the thousands of young people in those places. Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr.Francis Kakai admitted that he was a product of the German assistance to Sierra Leone in the past and expressed the hope that the programme will help improve the living conditions of young people in the rural areas.
He looked forward to having the same initiative introduced to the other districts in the future. The Minister was hopeful that the employment promotion programme would have the beneficiaries and their immediate communities impacted greatly as a result.
GIZ Programme Coordinator Dr. Ralf Zimmermann made an elaborate presentation of the programme to the audience.
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