NAYCOM, IOM Sign Agreement to Expand TVET Training for Returnees
The National Youth Commission (NAYCOM) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Sierra Leone have signed a new service agreement to expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) opportunities for young returnees.
The agreement marks the launch of the second phase of a specialised skills training initiative targeting returnee youth in Freetown and Makeni.
Funded by the European Union under the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme in Sub-Saharan Africa (EU MPRR-SSA), the initiative is designed to equip returnees with market-relevant vocational skills to support their economic independence and sustainable reintegration into Sierra Leonean society.
The partnership seeks to address skills gaps among vulnerable young people who have returned to the country by providing practical training to help them access employment opportunities or establish their own businesses.
Through the initiative, NAYCOM and IOM will align vocational training with labour market demands, with the aim of supporting returnees in developing sustainable livelihoods and strengthening their integration into their communities.
The TVET programme forms part of broader efforts by the Government of Sierra Leone and development partners to support young people, reduce vulnerabilities associated with irregular migration and enable returnees to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The initiative also reflects efforts to promote inclusive reintegration and ensure that returning migrants have access to opportunities that can support their long-term economic and social wellbeing.