At the AU side meeting on the Decade of Education and Skills Development, Hon. Prof. Pierre Gomez highlighted The Gambia’s strong commitment to skills development and workforce readiness.
He reported that The Gambia is implementing a development-oriented TVET policy aligned with ECOWAS and AU Skills Strategies, with a focus on STEM and workforce-responsive training. Key initiatives include the establishment of regional TVET centres and the University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET).
Hon. Prof. Gomez emphasized that private sector partnerships are central to The Gambia’s TVET strategy. These partnerships are supported by Sector Advisory Bodies, which ensure that skills development is relevant, high-quality, and aligned with national (GNQF) and international standards.
In addition, he noted that The Gambia has established critical funding mechanisms, including the National Research and Innovation Fund, the Tertiary and Higher Education Trust Fund, and a Students Revolving Loan Scheme. These efforts are complemented by the Skills Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund, which provides three financing windows: institutional improvement for high-demand TVET programs, youth training grants, and startup grants for youth-led businesses.
Finally, Hon. Prof. Gomez reiterated that The Gambia actively promotes local and international private sector investments, south-south cooperation, and bilateral partnerships in skills development.
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