Theme: Strengthening the Capacity of Youth-Based Matching Grant Beneficiaries to Formalize, Grow and Sustain Their Enterprises through Coaching and Mentorship
The ROOTS Project under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock today held the Passing Out Ceremony for Round 2 of the Youth-Based Matching Grant Coaching and Mentoring Program at Moses Loses Lodge, Jarra Soma, Lower River Region.
The three-month program, implemented in partnership with the Gambia Startup Chamber of Commerce (GSCC), has recorded remarkable achievements in transforming young Gambian entrepreneurs into more structured and sustainable businesses.
According to the CEO of GSCC Mr Baboucarr Kebbeh, the program began with 123 beneficiaries, of whom 121 completed the full three-month coaching. Impressively, 119 participants met the minimum required KPIs to graduate and be certified.
Key Results Achieved by Beneficiaries:
103 businesses registered
93 opened business bank accounts
105 established social media handles for marketing
111 adopted proper financial record-keeping systems
65 gained knowledge in tax filing and started paying taxes
90 formalized contracts or employment systems
105 developed business marketing strategies
57 introduced invoices and receipts for transactions
73 expanded or identified new markets
Sharing their experiences, several beneficiaries expressed how the program has transformed their businesses:
“Before joining the program, my income was low, but now it has improved significantly. I have gained knowledge, skills, and strategies for growth,” said Lasana, a beneficiary.
Olimatou Sillah added, “We registered our business, opened a bank account, and started keeping proper records, something we never did before.”
Modoulamin Jaiteh highlighted that he now keeps digital financial records and employs two people, thanks to the training.
One of the coaches, Fatou B. Njie, described entrepreneurship as “a journey, not a destination,” emphasizing that while the coaching phase has ended, the mentorship continues forever.
Delivering remarks, Mamour Alieu Jagne, the ROOTS Project Director thanked GSCC for their commitment and the beneficiaries for their patience throughout the process. He assured that the project is reviewing lessons learned to improve future cycles.
“The Matching Grant is designed to help beneficiaries in the rice and horticulture value chains maximize returns from their production—whether through assets like threshers, tricycles, or onion curing facilities,” he said.
He added that the 10% beneficiary contribution fosters ownership and sustainability. He also acknowledged the Ministry of Agriculture for its continued support, noting that their intervention made it possible to double the number of youth-based matching grant beneficiaries.
Representing the Permanent Secretary, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Projects and Programs at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security Hon. Fatou Jammeh-Touray congratulated the graduates and urged them to remain innovative and collaborative.
“There is no room for failure. Be creative, network, and give back to your communities by creating jobs,” she said. Quoting Abraham Lincoln, she reminded participants that “the best way to invest in your future is to create it.”
In welcoming participants, the Deputy Governor of LRR commended ROOTS for empowering youth and women, noting that most graduates are women.
“When you support a woman, you support a nation,” he said, while encouraging the graduates to remain bold and use their new skills to become job creators rather than job seekers.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by beneficiary Jainaba Jammeh, who expressed gratitude to ROOTS, GSCC, and the coaches, urging her peers to make the best use of the opportunity.