69
rations of the youth, i.e., training is inadequate
and restrictive and is not relevant to the fluctuating developmental needs and demands in the
national job market. To address the fundamental
problem in the education system, the Sierra
Leone government placed “building youth resilience to adapt to the impact of climate change
and other development calamities” as a significant development strategy to tackle the youth
employment, building the capacity of communities to adapt to future climate change and other
development calamities (CCDCs).
CCDCs are already impacting negatively on
the youth and their communities, enterprises and
their overall well-being in Sierra Leone, especially in rural communities. To counter and mitigate these effects, the Youth Employment and
Entrepreneurship Project was developed as a
solution spanning from June 2018 until July
2020. The primary aim of YEEP was to reinforce
the employability of Sierra Leone youth by utilising the youth climate change adaptation conceptual framework. By enhancing entrepreneurship
and employment skills through the development
of a framework that integrates education and
vocational institutions and training with job market demand and supply, the youth would be better
prepared to identify changing target needs that
they can apply their skills. Project evaluators predicted that this strategic approach would be useful in strengthening the professional levels in the
youth population segments of the country and
would hopefully trigger sustained economic
development in the growth sectors.
Although the conceptual framework was initially developed for application in small island
developing states, this section of the chapter will
present an analysis of the implementation of the
conceptual framework for youth climate change
adaptation in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and
demonstrate its broad applicability.
Youth and the Implementation
of the YEEP
In Sierra Leone, the youth is defined as a person
between the ages of 15 and 35. Approximately
39.4% of the country’s population is categorised
as a youth, of which about 51% are women (Sandy
2018). The country has one of the highest youth
unemployment rates in West Africa, standing at
70% (Government of Sierra Leone 2019). In its
effort to combat youth unemployment, the government implemented YEEP with the support of
the AfDB.
The Lattanzio Kibs-led consortium (LKC)
implemented a significant element of the YEEP
on behalf of the National Youth Commission
(NAYCOM), namely, the Youth Skills
Development
for
Employment
and
Entrepreneurship Project (YSDEEP). YSDEEP
aimed to improve youth employability and
enhance entrepreneurship skills. The team developed a framework to integrate education and
vocational institutions with job market demand
and supply. Its overarching objective was the
strengthening of professional levels in the youth
population to eventually trigger sustained economic development sectors in the future where
market demand modifies the emphasis on specific skills that improve work readiness. The project had three main components:
Component 1: trade and skills development,
including green construction, sustainable agriculture (focusing on aquaculture) and sustainable tourism, and the development of curricula
and training manuals on the above
Component 2: career guidance and job readiness
skills training and the development of its curriculum and training manual
Component 3: entrepreneurship training and the
development of its curriculum and training
manual
SWOT Analysis on the Piloting
of YSDEEP
Strengths of the YEEP Implementation
Process
YEEP was experiencing smooth implementation
during the inception stage of the project. There
was high enthusiasm for the project by all key
stakeholders and the country. The National Youth
The Piloting of the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Project (YEEP) in Sierra Leone, West Africa
rations of the youth, i.e., training is inadequate
and restrictive and is not relevant to the fluctuating developmental needs and demands in the
national job market. To address the fundamental
problem in the education system, the Sierra
Leone government placed “building youth resilience to adapt to the impact of climate change
and other development calamities” as a significant development strategy to tackle the youth
employment, building the capacity of communities to adapt to future climate change and other
development calamities (CCDCs).
CCDCs are already impacting negatively on
the youth and their communities, enterprises and
their overall well-being in Sierra Leone, especially in rural communities. To counter and mitigate these effects, the Youth Employment and
Entrepreneurship Project was developed as a
solution spanning from June 2018 until July
2020. The primary aim of YEEP was to reinforce
the employability of Sierra Leone youth by utilising the youth climate change adaptation conceptual framework. By enhancing entrepreneurship
and employment skills through the development
of a framework that integrates education and
vocational institutions and training with job market demand and supply, the youth would be better
prepared to identify changing target needs that
they can apply their skills. Project evaluators predicted that this strategic approach would be useful in strengthening the professional levels in the
youth population segments of the country and
would hopefully trigger sustained economic
development in the growth sectors.
Although the conceptual framework was initially developed for application in small island
developing states, this section of the chapter will
present an analysis of the implementation of the
conceptual framework for youth climate change
adaptation in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and
demonstrate its broad applicability.
Youth and the Implementation
of the YEEP
In Sierra Leone, the youth is defined as a person
between the ages of 15 and 35. Approximately
39.4% of the country’s population is categorised
as a youth, of which about 51% are women (Sandy
2018). The country has one of the highest youth
unemployment rates in West Africa, standing at
70% (Government of Sierra Leone 2019). In its
effort to combat youth unemployment, the government implemented YEEP with the support of
the AfDB.
The Lattanzio Kibs-led consortium (LKC)
implemented a significant element of the YEEP
on behalf of the National Youth Commission
(NAYCOM), namely, the Youth Skills
Development
for
Employment
and
Entrepreneurship Project (YSDEEP). YSDEEP
aimed to improve youth employability and
enhance entrepreneurship skills. The team developed a framework to integrate education and
vocational institutions with job market demand
and supply. Its overarching objective was the
strengthening of professional levels in the youth
population to eventually trigger sustained economic development sectors in the future where
market demand modifies the emphasis on specific skills that improve work readiness. The project had three main components:
Component 1: trade and skills development,
including green construction, sustainable agriculture (focusing on aquaculture) and sustainable tourism, and the development of curricula
and training manuals on the above
Component 2: career guidance and job readiness
skills training and the development of its curriculum and training manual
Component 3: entrepreneurship training and the
development of its curriculum and training
manual
SWOT Analysis on the Piloting
of YSDEEP
Strengths of the YEEP Implementation
Process
YEEP was experiencing smooth implementation
during the inception stage of the project. There
was high enthusiasm for the project by all key
stakeholders and the country. The National Youth
The Piloting of the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Project (YEEP) in Sierra Leone, West Africa