By christian.conteh@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a bold move to combat Sierra Leone’s stubborn youth unemployment crisis, the Ministry of Finance has unveiled a sweeping “Quick Start” jobs initiative aimed at putting thousands of young Sierra Leoneans to work and revitalizing the economy.
Unveiled at a high-profile forum hosted by the International Growth Centre in Freetown, the multi-pronged initiative was outlined by Finance Minister Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura. He was joined by representatives from the Ministries of Planning and Economic Development, Youth Affairs, and Labour, as they rallied around a common goal: jobs, skills, and economic empowerment for the nation’s youth.
At the heart of the plan is an ambitious promise—10,000 public works contracts signed by June, scaling up to employ 75,000 young people under the age of 35.
Beginning in June, the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) will spearhead public employment campaigns including street repairs, drainage maintenance, tree planting, and expanded waste management services. “We’re going to see wages hitting pockets almost immediately,” Minister Bangura assured the audience.
But the plan goes far beyond short-term labor.
Through an expanded National Youth Empowerment Fund, 20,000 youth-led businesses are expected to receive low-interest loans, backed by mentorship and free business development support. Minister Bangura highlighted a strong emphasis on green and future-facing sectors like agritech, recycling, and eco-tourism, positioning Sierra Leone’s youth at the forefront of sustainable innovation.
In a landmark move for gender inclusion, the scheme will also train 1,000 young women in non-traditional trades—including solar energy installation, auto mechanics, and carpentry—through the Armed Forces Technical College.
To address one of the biggest hurdles for aspiring entrepreneurs—access to credit—the Bank of Sierra Leone has revamped its collateral registry. Movable assets such as sewing machines, phones, and farming tools can now be used to secure loans. This reform has already unlocked over US$39 million in fresh credit, generating more than 2,000 new jobs in sectors like tourism, manufacturing, and the creative arts.
The Central Bank is also preparing to launch a Youth Enterprise Fund, while a “kekeh project” will introduce hundreds of licensed tricycles to formalize the informal transport industry and create structured jobs in the process.
Economist Ansumana Kai, present at the launch, praised the initiative’s breadth but emphasized the importance of “rigorous monitoring.” He called for monthly public dashboards tracking job numbers and financial flows to prevent bureaucratic slowdowns.
Civil society organizations echoed this sentiment, advocating for publicly available beneficiary lists, gender-balanced selection panels, and strict transparency to shield the program from political favoritism.
Minister Bangura laid out a precise timeline for delivery: 10,000 public works contracts by June, the first wave of youth fund loans in July, and a fully digitized collateral registry by August.
“If we hit these milestones,” he stated, “we will shift the conversation from PowerPoints to pay packets.”
For thousands of recent graduates, street vendors, and job seekers across Sierra Leone, the true impact of this plan will be measured not in speeches—but in steady incomes and thriving local businesses. CC/23/4/2025
