The National Technical Team (NTT) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – Korea International Cooperation Agency (UNESCO-KOICA) project, conducted its first meeting of the year, on the 11th of March, 2022.

The UNESCO-KOICA project is centered on Youth Empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The aim of the project is to have an impact in the whole TVET system of The Gambia through actions such as the development of an improved TVET Policy, TVET Education Management Information System (EMIS) and communication strategies to improve the perception of TVET.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary and Chair of the meeting, Doctor Yusupha Touray, in his opening remarks, underscored the significance of the project towards national development. He proceeded to lead the team on a review and finalization of minutes of the previous NTT held early August, 2021.

The Deputy Project Coordinator from The #Gambia National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM), Ms. Ndeban Joof Ndong, informed the meeting that Ace Communications Executive has been contracted and is currently working together with MoHERST and UNESCO, in the development and implementation of a communications strategy for the promotion of TVET in The Gambia. She went on to notify that the development of communication activities is on its final stage and will soon be launched.

In her presentation, Ms. Fatou Janneh, the MoHERST Head of TVET Unit and Government Focal person for the project, updated the team on the progress made with regards implementation and the next steps. According to her, the TVET Policy is on its finalization stage. A graphic designer has been assigned to work on the front page of which the pictures were generated by the ACE Communications Executive team and MoHERST Information Officer. It can be recalled that the National TVET Policy was developed and validated on the 11th of August, 2021. During the validation, a key suggestion from attendees was to have the cover page reflect TVET in The Gambian context. The TVET Policy document will be printed and shared upon completion of cover page design and others.

The overall goal of the project is to create an enabling environment that will give young people, especially girls, a better chance of finding decent employment by providing them with lifelong learning opportunities as recommended by SDGs 4 and SDGs 8, through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (#TVET).

The direct beneficiaries of this project are Gambian institutions such as Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI), the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority of The Gambia (NAQAA), Policymakers, private sector stakeholders and Teaching staff in TVET institutions, including TVET institutions leaders.