GYIN Gambia launches CORY Consortium 3 year project

GYIN Gambia CORY National Orientation Workshop Participnats

The CORY project is a new initiative that supports young rural women and men in West and Central Africa to become entrepreneurs.  Over its 3-year implementation period (2014-2017), the CORY project will focus on rural young women and men, ages 15-35 years, who are involved in agriculture production or activities associated with rural business. 

GYIN Gambia chapter together with National Implementing Partners- Jarumeh Koto Youth Development Association, Gambia Women Finance Association (GAWFA), Village Savings and Credit Associations (VISACAs) on the 8^th -9^th July at Ocean Bay Hotel launched the CORY project.

The project also targets rural youth institutions for business training, advocacy, networking and knowledge exchange – all with a 1:1 female-male ratio.

Mamadou Edrisa Njie GYIN Gambia National Coordinator said by capitalizing on innovative ideas and taking into account the wishes and desires of many rural young women and men, the network recognized the need to provide a continuous “space” by establishing a platform now known as GYIN International.

“GYIN seeks to develop evidence-based, sustainable, scalable, and cost-effective agribusiness, entrepreneurship, and leadership programs that seeks to address the root causes of youth unemployment, thus create opportunities for young people and rural youths in particular to engage them in meaningful venture to be self reliance, thus improve their standard of living.”

 

GYIN Gambia chapter National Coordinator disclosed that the network has participated actively involved in the designing of the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (Nema project) which target rural youth and women and the network is appointed a member of the Steering Committee of the Nema project representing young peoples.

Mr Moses Abukari the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Country Programme Manager for West and Central Africa (CPM) expressed satisfaction on the remarkable relationship between GYIN Gambia and IFAD funded projects in the country.

He echoed commendations on Global Youth Innovation Network Gambia chapter (GYIN Gambia chapter) as a very active group. He reminded participants to the meeting that all efforts should be extended to ensure successful implementation of the Creating Opportunities for Rural Youth project (CORY project).

Mr. Abukari reiterated that youth are the right target on basis that they are the generation most energetic, connected, informed and educated and connected to solder the drive the agricultural sector to its rightful destination in Africa.

Mr. Abukari observed that with IFAD, most of the agricultural projects are directed to the rural communities with understanding that the work population is growing but the idea of changed in the sector’s perception is still an ongoing campaign. He said the message is to paint it as a dignified profession which suit the average youth in the country.

Mr. Saikou Jammeh, GYIN Gambia Board member said the performance of GYIN Gambia as one of the most vibrant network in the sub-region is due to the hardworking passion of its leadership and the commitment of the members.

“With the launching of the CORY Project, he pointed out that it is not only enough to create job opportunities. He said as young people they should find out what is going on in other countries and incorporate research with focus to update the status of agriculture in the country. He advised that effort should be made in providing innovations that can transform the state of affairs in their business.

He noted that it is disappointing for youth to leave the farming works on the hands of the elderly persons alone because of illegal journeys to the Europe. With the available opportunities such as the internet, and exposure by travelling for the youth in the country, he said it is wiser to copy and implement the good practices which they could see working well in other countries.”

Lamin AD Sanyang Project Director, Livestock and Horticulture Development Project (LHDP) –IFAD funded project also Chairperson IFAD Country Programme Approach (CPA) shared with the meeting that all the four ongoing agricultural projects under the ministry of Agriculture funded by IFAD are PIWAMP, RFP, LHDP and Nema) putting emphasis on the participation of women and youth in agriculture and its related activities.

He explained that part of their role is to provide such opportunities and allow farmers to make their choices on which they will continue to be supported on their good ideas that can help in transforming the current scale into commercial agriculture.

Mr Sanyang labelled the youth as the right target in all the dreams in making the agricultural sector a more lucrative business as well as its expansion. He encouraged them to work in teams and share their stories with similar associations in other countries with a clear line of strengthening one goal.

Mr. Pape Samb, Project Director CORY project made it known to all the participants that the CORY Project is designed with $1.95 million funding from IFAD as well as combination of in-kind cash support from additional organisations in the amount of US $4.66 million all amounting to US $6.61million.

With the project, he said efforts will focus initially on rural youth and youth-led organisations in Benin, Cameroon, The Gambia and Nigeria. He commended GYIN Gambia for raising the bar high. He commends the team for its good track records, the government of The Gambia and partners for their support and collaboration since the inception of the network.

He said the project have come with numerous targets and it is hoped that GYIN-Gambia will be able to implement its part with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders to see that the targeted groups are reached irrespective of their location and barrier.

Launching the CORY project in The Gambia, Mr. Adama Sabally – Youth Coordinator at Programme and Planning Directorate, Ministry of Youth and Sports on behalf of the Minister of Youth and Sports, recognised the CORY project as a promoter of youth employment which he said have come to the Gambia at a good time (when more youth are migrating from the rural areas).

He commended GYIN Gambia for its success in lobbying for the project to come to The Gambia and thanked IFAD and co-agencies for providing the funding for the CORY project.

He advised the youth at the meeting to be willing to learn and share their knowledge among themselves during the cause of the orientation sessions.

Delivering his vote of thanks, Abdou Rahman Sallah GYIN Gambia Programme Officer said that GYIN was launch under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency Dr. Yayi Boni President of the Republic of Benin and hosted a good number of youth around the world to attend the GYIN Workshop- Fair from 10-13 October, 2011 at the Palais Des Congress in Cotonou, Benin.