Description:
Despite substantial improvements in
access to basic education and steady economic growth, The
Gambia still faces considerable challenges in respect to
reducing poverty. As the result of its narrow economic base
and its reduced internal market, the country will continue
to rely heavily on the productivity of its citizens to
reverse the cycle that keeps families in poverty generation
after generation. Poverty reduction is a complex equation
that involves improvements in job creation, especially for
high-skilled and productive employment, as well as
improvements in human capital levels to ensure that citizens
are able to take advantage of employment opportunities.
Currently, however, low human capital levels greatly limit
the productivity and employment outcomes of the population,
as evidenced by the fact that a majority continues to work
in subsistence agriculture, especially in rural areas. The
Second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper II (2007-2015, PRSP
II) recognizes the need to focus on improving youth
employment outcomes. It states that 'The Gambia has a
problem of youth unemployment especially those that have
limited skills. Consequently, a big proportion of the youth
are part of the people categorized as poor in The Gambia.
PRSP II will focus on the problem of youth unemployment
through various approaches including supporting private
sector investment that creates jobs for the youth,
increasing access to productive assets particularly credit
by the youth, and retooling and training the youth to
increase their employability.'