Why Investing in Gambian Youth Can Be a Risky Proposition

As a Gambian entrepreneur, I have had my fair share of experiences with investing in youth projects. Unfortunately, many of these projects have not been successful, and I have come to the conclusion that investing in Gambian youth can be a risky proposition.

One example of this is the volleyball project that I was involved in. One of the players robbed around 30k GMD from the team’s funds in August 2023. This was a significant amount of money that could have been used to support the team and its members. Despite my efforts to report the incident, the player has not yet been found guilty and continues to play for SK East Volleyball team.

Another project that did not work out was the tailoring project. My tailorshop manager, who managed two of my four tailorshops, misused half of the invested money on the so-called Backway. This resulted in the closure of two of my best running tailorshops and left many of my employees homeless.

These are just two examples, but they illustrate why I have decided that such investments in people are not working in this country mostly. The reliability of many of the youth nowadays is horrible, and they seem not to be ready to have a better life. It’s a sad but true fact.

As a result, I have moved on to work with migrants from neighboring countries mainly Guinea Bissau. These people take it seriously and are committed to building a better future for themselves and their communities.

It’s important to remember that these are just two examples and not representative of all Gambian youth. There are many young people in The Gambia who are hardworking, reliable, and committed to building a better future for themselves and their communities.

However, it’s important to approach investments in Gambian youth with caution and to carefully vet potential partners and projects before committing significant resources. It’s also important to provide ongoing support and oversight to ensure that investments are being used effectively and responsibly.

In this article, I will explore some of the challenges and opportunities that Gambian youth face, as well as some of the best practices and recommendations for investing in them.

Challenges

According to the latest census data, The Gambia has a population of about 2.4 million people, of which 63% are under the age of 251. This means that The Gambia has one of the youngest populations in Africa and the world.

However, this demographic dividend also comes with many challenges. Some of the main challenges that Gambian youth face are:

• Unemployment and underemployment: According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the youth unemployment rate in The Gambia was 41.5% in 20192, which is one of the highest in Africa. Many young people lack the skills, education, and experience to access decent jobs or start their own businesses. Moreover, many of those who are employed work in informal sectors or low-productivity activities that do not offer adequate income or social protection.

• Poverty and inequality: According to the World Bank, The Gambia is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a gross national income (GNI) per capita of $710 in 20203. About 48% of the population lives below the national poverty line4, and about 10% lives in extreme poverty5. Poverty and inequality affect young people disproportionately, as they have less access to basic services such as health, education, water, sanitation, and electricity.

• Migration and human trafficking: Due to the lack of opportunities and prospects at home, many young Gambians resort to irregular migration or fall prey to human trafficking networks. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), The Gambia was one of the top five countries of origin of migrants arriving in Europe by sea in 2016. Many of these migrants risk their lives crossing the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea, facing abuse, exploitation, detention, and death along the way. Some also end up being trafficked for sexual or labor exploitation.

• Conflict and instability: The Gambia has experienced political turmoil and violence in recent years, especially during the 2016 presidential election and its aftermath. The former president Yahya Jammeh refused to accept his defeat by Adama Barrow and tried to cling to power by declaring a state of emergency. This led to a political crisis that threatened to escalate into a civil war, until Jammeh was forced to step down and go into exile after regional intervention by ECOWAS. The transition to democracy has been fraught with challenges such as security sector reform, transitional justice, constitutional review, and national reconciliation. Young people have been at the forefront of these processes, but they also face risks of radicalization, violence, and human rights violations.

Opportunities

Despite these challenges, Gambian youth also have many opportunities and potentials to contribute to the development of their country and the continent. Some of the main opportunities that Gambian youth have are:

• Education and skills development: The Gambia has made significant progress in expanding access to education, especially at the primary level. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the net enrolment rate at the primary level was 86% in 2019, up from 58% in 2000. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of quality, relevance, and completion of education, especially at the secondary and tertiary levels. The Gambia needs to invest more in education and skills development, especially in areas such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and soft skills. These skills are essential for young people to adapt to the changing labor market and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

• Entrepreneurship and innovation: The Gambia has a vibrant entrepreneurial culture and a growing ecosystem of start-ups, incubators, accelerators, and hubs. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), The Gambia ranked first in Africa and sixth in the world in terms of total early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA) in 2019. The Gambia also ranked second in Africa and ninth in the world in terms of entrepreneurial intentions. However, many young entrepreneurs face challenges such as access to finance, markets, mentorship, networks, and infrastructure. The Gambia needs to create a more conducive environment for entrepreneurship and innovation, by providing more support and incentives for young entrepreneurs, as well as fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and risk-taking.

• Agriculture and tourism: The Gambia has a rich natural resource base and a favorable climate for agriculture and tourism. Agriculture accounts for about 25% of the GDP and employs about 70% of the labor force. Tourism accounts for about 20% of the GDP and employs about 12% of the labor force. However, both sectors suffer from low productivity, quality, diversification, and value addition. The Gambia needs to leverage its comparative advantages in agriculture and tourism, by promoting more sustainable, inclusive, and competitive practices. Young people can play a key role in transforming these sectors, by introducing new technologies, innovations, products, services, and markets.

• Regional integration and cooperation: The Gambia is part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is one of the most advanced regional economic communities in Africa. ECOWAS has a population of about 400 million people and a GDP of about $700 billion. ECOWAS offers many opportunities for trade, investment, mobility, and cooperation among its member states. The Gambia needs to take advantage of these opportunities, by strengthening its regional integration and cooperation. Young people can benefit from these opportunities, by expanding their horizons, networks, and partnerships across the region.

Best Practices and Recommendations

Based on my experience as an entrepreneur and an investor in youth projects, I would like to share some of the best practices and recommendations for investing in Gambian youth. These are:

• Do your homework: Before investing in any youth project or partner, it is important to do your homework. This means conducting a thorough due diligence on the background, track record, reputation, vision, mission, goals, objectives, strategies, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts of the project or partner. It also means understanding the context, challenges, opportunities, stakeholders, and risks involved in the project or partner. Doing your homework will help you to make informed decisions, avoid pitfalls, and maximize returns.

• Build trust: Trust is the foundation of any successful investment relationship. Trust is built on honesty, transparency, accountability, and communication. It is important to be honest with your project or partner about your expectations, commitments, and constraints. It is also important to be transparent with your project or partner about your sources, uses, and results of funds. It is also important to be accountable to your project or partner for your actions, decisions, and performance. It is also important to communicate with your project or partner regularly, clearly, and effectively. Building trust will help you to establish a long-term, mutually beneficial, and sustainable relationship with your project or partner.

• Provide holistic support: Investing in youth is not only about providing financial resources. It is also about providing non-financial resources such as technical assistance, training, mentoring, coaching, networking, and advocacy. It is important to provide holistic support to your project or partner that addresses their needs, gaps, and challenges at different