President Julius Maada Bio’s Youth Employment Scheme (YES) – A cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s development
President Julius Maada Bio has made youth employment the cornerstone of his development policy. Launched in 2024, the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) is an ambitious presidential initiative aimed at creating 500,000 jobs for Sierra Leonean youth over a five-year period. A challenge commensurate with the challenges of a country where more than 60% of the population is under 35 years of age.
A Multisectoral strategy – Agriculture, mining, digital, and creative industries
The YES program deploys a multisectoral strategy, targeting agriculture, mining, construction, digital technology, and creative industries.
Agriculture, which employs two-thirds of Sierra Leoneans, is considered a strategic sector, with initiatives aimed at transforming subsistence farming into a profitable commercial activity and attracting urban youth to agribusiness.
In the digital and creative industries, the government supports the creation of enterprises in music, film, fashion, and information technology.
Tangible results on the ground – grants for youth-led enterprises
Results are beginning to materialize on the ground. In June 2026, President Bio launched grants for youth-led enterprises in Makeni, injecting $450,000 into the local economy.
Nearly 1,500 young entrepreneurs each received $300 in grant funding, after benefiting from training in skills in demand on the labor market.
This initiative, carried out under the Productive Social Safety Nets and Youth Employment Project (PSSNYE), aims to create sustainable livelihoods in rural areas.
Technical and vocational training – Partnerships with the private sector
Alongside this, the government is investing in technical and vocational training to prepare young people for employment.
The partnership with China Railway Seventh Group led to the launch of the Excellence Skills Academy at Freetown Polytechnic, where the first cohort of 40 trainees will be directly hired by the company upon completion of their training. The World Food Programme now sources 30% of its rice from local production, creating outlets for young farmers.
Environmental component – Green public works
The environmental component of YES is also operational. The Green Public Works sub-program has already engaged 3,000 young people in public works focused on tree planting, drain rehabilitation, and urban beautification, with an additional 4,000 beneficiaries recently recruited.
These initiatives provide immediate income while strengthening communities’ climate resilience.
A determined path forward – Education beyond certificates
The road to the 500,000 job target remains strewn with obstacles, but President Bio has clearly affirmed his determination: « Education must move beyond certificates to hands-on competencies. » For thousands of young Sierra Leoneans, the YES program embodies the hope of a future where youth is no longer synonymous with unemployment, but with shared prosperity.
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