• UNICEF-backed pilot trains 30 youths for global gig economy

• Initiative targets jobs gap amid high youth unemployment and underemployment

The Sierra Leonean government launched the “Learn2Earn” program on Wednesday, Dec. 17, an initiative aimed at improving youth employability through digital freelancing.

Implemented in partnership with UNICEF, the program seeks to equip young people with the skills needed to generate income online, as traditional job opportunities remain scarce.

The pilot phase includes 30 participants enrolled in a one-month program combining in-person orientation sessions, virtual mentoring, and applications for live freelance projects.

“The program was designed to move participants from learning to earning through mentorship, real practice, and accountability, supported by experienced freelancers working on platforms such as Upwork and the Bounty platform,” said Jesse Kamara, head of innovation at the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI).

According to the ministry, “Learn2Earn” offers an alternative pathway into the global gig economy, addressing the growing gap between the number of young people entering the labor market and the limited availability of conventional jobs.

The program also aligns with MoCTI’s objective to help create 65,000 jobs in the technology and innovation sectors. This follows World Bank estimates that 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030.

The initiative comes amid a strained socioeconomic environment. The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimated youth unemployment in Sierra Leone at 10% in 2022, while underemployment remains significantly higher.

An Afrobarometer survey published in September found that 57% of Sierra Leoneans have considered leaving the country, with 55% of them citing the search for better employment opportunities.

Beyond skills development, the expansion of freelancing raises structural challenges, particularly access for young people to digital equipment such as computers, suitable smartphones, and software.

Reliable, high-quality, and affordable internet connectivity remains another constraint. According to DataReportal, Sierra Leone had 1.8 million internet users at the beginning of 2025, representing a penetration rate of 20.7%.

Isaac K. Kassouwi