Classroom to Commerce: Empowering Youth Employability and Entrepreneurship Project

Project goal

To contribute to a reduction in youth unemployment in Sierra Leone by promoting youth entrepreneurship and employability through enhanced Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and business skills development/upscaling and expansion of the MADAM's Entrepreneurship Development Support Services Scheme (EDSSS).

Project objectives

1. The employability of 1,000 TVET and university graduates through career guidance, job readiness training, internship placements and apprenticeships enhanced.
2. Facilitate favorable access to finance for 1,000 youth-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by creating linkages to the upscaled and expanded entrepreneurship development support services fund (EDSSF) in Bombali, Kenema, and Bo districts.
3. Foster a collaborative digital ecosystem for 100 youth entrepreneurs by strengthening linkages between TVET institutions, National Council for Technical, Vocational and other Academic Awards (NCTVA), private sector partners, and financial institutions.
4. Enhanced intervention capacities of 10 local youth led community-based CBOs working with women, youths, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in upholding and promoting an enabling environment for inclusive dialogue and the implementation and monitoring of public policies for sustainable development.

Project target

The action directly targets 2,200 youths, including TVET and university graduates (aged 15-35) in focus districts.

Project locations

Bo, Bombali and Kenema

Project duration

Three years

Implementation period

December 2024 to November 2027

Lead partner

Mankind's Activities for Development Accreditation Movement (MADAM)

Consortium partners

1. Rofutha Development Association (RODA)
2. Humanist Watch Salone (Huwasal)

Donor

European Union (EU)