Programme Manager of the German Technical Cooperation(GTZ), Dr Salua Nour has said at the present moment over 190 project proposals were under study which will provide jobs for 17000 youths.
She spoke to the press over the weekend at GTZ head office Wilkinson road where she said if the 190 projects were funded by government and donors it will lead to the creation of 17000 sustainable jobs and livelihoods.
Dr Nour explained that 37 projects have been implemented for which 12 micro enterprises, 3 medium size enterprises, 11 rural entrepreneurial youths groups, 3 big enterprises as well as the economic venture of big youth associations as klin salone, NWRO, NaMEP and AMNET. Stating further that 345 jobs and livelihoods were created by these interventions.
“The most important contribution to the solution of the youth unemployment problem has been the support given to the successful organization and employment of youth groups in rural and urban areas” she said.
She further disclosed that a survey has been conducted nation wide in order to identify the employment potentials of the main economic sectors in all districts and to also discover the factors impeding the realization of the potentials.
She affirmed that a data bank has been established in which project proposals from enterprises, youth groups, rural and urban small initiatives all over the country will be analyzed and prepared for funding.
Dr Nour disclosed that GTZ’s aim was to empower a small number of local technical agents to take ownership of GTZ EPP activities in the country as an alternative of the models of engaging expartriates to do the jobs which national experts can very well accomplish.
The deputy minister of employment and social security, Kadie Sesay who was also at the press conference stated that her ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with GTZ for the establishment of an employment promotion committee and also a development of an evaluation team to monitor the projects undertaken by GTZ and to make sure that projects implemented by nationals were carried on.