FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BANJUL, The Gambia – July 23, 2026 – The President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, will grace the landmark Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund Award Ceremony on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
Training Grants (Scholarships) and Institutional Improvement Grants
During the ceremony, President Barrow will award scholarships and stipends to 1,318 students who will be enrolled in 18 public and private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under Window 2 of the Fund.
In addition, 25 TVET institutions will receive Window 1 Institutional Improvement Grants aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, improving training facilities, and enhancing the quality of TVET delivery across the country.
The ceremony will mark the award of grants amounting to GMD 83,814,708.24 to beneficiary institutions under the two funding windows, distributed as follows:
* Window 1: GMD 33,858,708.24 – supporting TVET institutional capacity strengthening and improvement initiatives.
* Window 2: GMD 49,956,000.00 – supporting skills development through scholarships, stipends, and training grants.
About the SIE Fund
The SIE Fund is implemented under the World Bank-funded Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity (RISE) Project. It was established to address skills gaps and empower Gambian youth through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The Fund operates through three financing windows:
* Window 1: Strengthening TVET institutional capacity.
* Window 2: Supporting relevant skills development and training grants.
* Window 3: Promoting youth entrepreneurship.
The Fund is designed to equip young Gambians with the technical and entrepreneurial skills needed to contribute meaningfully to economic diversification and sustainable national development. The initiative aligns with the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023–2027).
New Calls for Startup Funding in August 2026
As part of efforts to expand access to skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities, MoHERST will launch new calls for proposals for all three SIE Fund windows in August 2026.
This will include the activation of Window 3, which will provide startup support for young entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas. Under this window, aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18–35 with high-potential business concepts will be eligible to apply for grants, mentorship, and incubation support.
Priority sectors include Agriculture, Engineering, Tourism, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Business, and Creative and Performing Arts
The new calls will be open to TVET institutions, training providers, and individual entrepreneurs nationwide. Detailed application guidelines, eligibility criteria, and timelines will be published through the SIE Fund portal and MoHERST’s official communication channels.
Ceremony Participants and National Commitment
The July 28 Award Ceremony will bring together government officials, development partners, representatives of TVET institutions, and beneficiaries.
The event underscores the Government’s commitment to investing in skills development, innovation, youth empowerment, and job creation as key drivers of national growth and sustainable development.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
President Barrow to Award 1,318 Scholarships to TVET Students, Institutional Improvement Grants, and Launch New Funding Windows for Startups
BANJUL, The Gambia – July 23, 2026 – The President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, will grace the landmark Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund Award Ceremony on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
Training Grants (Scholarships) and Institutional Improvement Grants
During the ceremony, President Barrow will award scholarships and stipends to 1,318 students who will be enrolled in 18 public and private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under Window 2 of the Fund.
In addition, 25 TVET institutions will receive Window 1 Institutional Improvement Grants aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, improving training facilities, and enhancing the quality of TVET delivery across the country.
The ceremony will mark the award of grants amounting to GMD 83,814,708.24 to beneficiary institutions under the two funding windows, distributed as follows:
* Window 1: GMD 33,858,708.24 – supporting TVET institutional capacity strengthening and improvement initiatives.
* Window 2: GMD 49,956,000.00 – supporting skills development through scholarships, stipends, and training grants.
About the SIE Fund
The SIE Fund is implemented under the World Bank-funded Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity (RISE) Project. It was established to address skills gaps and empower Gambian youth through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The Fund operates through three financing windows:
* Window 1: Strengthening TVET institutional capacity.
* Window 2: Supporting relevant skills development and training grants.
* Window 3: Promoting youth entrepreneurship.
The Fund is designed to equip young Gambians with the technical and entrepreneurial skills needed to contribute meaningfully to economic diversification and sustainable national development. The initiative aligns with the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023–2027).
New Calls for Startup Funding in August 2026
As part of efforts to expand access to skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities, MoHERST will launch new calls for proposals for all three SIE Fund windows in August 2026.
This will include the activation of Window 3, which will provide startup support for young entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas. Under this window, aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18–35 with high-potential business concepts will be eligible to apply for grants, mentorship, and incubation support.
Priority sectors include Agriculture, Engineering, Tourism, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Business, and Creative and Performing Arts.
The new calls will be open to TVET institutions, training providers, and individual entrepreneurs nationwide. Detailed application guidelines, eligibility criteria, and timelines will be published through the SIE Fund portal and MoHERST’s official communication channels.
Ceremony Participants and National Commitment
The July 28 Award Ceremony will bring together government officials, development partners, representatives of TVET institutions, and beneficiaries.
The event underscores the Government’s commitment to investing in skills development, innovation, youth empowerment, and job creation as key drivers of national growth and sustainable development.
Copyright © 2026. All Rights Reserved