Kawsu Sillah
Executive Director
Registered in The Gambia · Working across Africa
Connecting people, empowering youth, advancing inclusive development.
African Institute for Migration and Youth Development (AIMYD) is a social enterprise working at the intersection of migration, youth development, governance and sustainability across Africa.
Pan-African Engagement
Advancing African-led solutions for migration, youth and sustainability.
2022
Registered in The Gambia
2
Main programme pillars
Pan-African
Reach & cooperation
Evidence-Led
Research & policy
Who we are
An African social enterprise and development institute.
Initiated and legally registered in The Gambia since 2022, AIMYD is dedicated to advancing inclusive and sustainable development across Africa. We generate knowledge and solutions for sustainable development, providing a platform for policy dialogue, applied research and capacity building.
Our work supports governments, institutions and communities in addressing key development challenges particularly in migration governance, youth empowerment and social transformation.
Our Vision
An Africa where people, institutions and communities are empowered to harness migration, innovation and human potential for inclusive and sustainable development.
Our Mission
To promote inclusive and sustainable development in Africa through evidence-based research, policy engagement, innovation, capacity development and strategic partnerships.
Our approach
Multi-sectoral, Collaborative
& Results-oriented.
Two guiding principles shape how we design and deliver our work across Africa.
People-Centred, Integrated Programming
Interconnected programmes across migration, youth, governance, climate and gender designed with youth, migrants, women and diaspora communities at the centre.
Partnerships for Pan-African Impact
African-led collaboration with governments, civil society, regional bodies and the private sector, aligned with Agenda 2063 and built for long-term resilience and sustainability.
Thematic programme areas
Two main pillars.
AIMYD's programmes are organised under two main pillars: Migration Governance and Youth Development. Climate resilience, gender equality and social inclusion are integrated across all our work.
Migration Governance Pillar
Supporting safer migration, stronger institutions and better opportunities for migrants, returnees and diaspora communities.
Strategic focus areas
- Migration and Development
Strengthening the positive contribution of migration to communities, institutions and national development.
- Diaspora Engagement
Promoting diaspora participation through investment, knowledge exchange, mentoring, skills transfer and partnerships.
- Return and Reintegration
Supporting returnees through counselling, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship and community-based reintegration.
- Labour Migration
Promoting safe, regular and informed labour migration, including access to skills, employment information and worker protection.
- Integrated Border Management
Supporting cooperation, training and knowledge-sharing among institutions involved in border management and human mobility.
- Protection of Vulnerable Migrants
Strengthening awareness, referral systems and support services for migrants exposed to exploitation, trafficking, abuse or other risks.
Youth Development Pillar
Supporting young people to develop their skills, participate in decision-making and access meaningful social and economic opportunities.
Strategic focus areas
- Youth Leadership and Political Participation
Building the confidence and capacity of young people to participate in leadership, governance and public decision-making.
- Youth, Peace and Security
Supporting young people to contribute to peacebuilding, conflict prevention, social cohesion and community development.
- Youth Employment and Economic Empowerment
Promoting employment, entrepreneurship, business development and access to sustainable livelihood opportunities.
- Youth Education and Skills Development
Supporting practical education, vocational training, digital skills, career development and lifelong learning.
Cross-cutting themes
Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development
Promoting green skills, climate awareness, sustainable livelihoods and environmentally responsible development.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Ensuring women, persons with disabilities and marginalised groups participate in and benefit from AIMYD's programmes.
Our intervention
Capacity Development Programmes
Capacity development is a core part of AIMYD's work. We design and deliver practical training programmes that respond to the needs of young people, practitioners, institutions, civil society organisations and community-based groups.
Our initial training areas include
Migration Training
Building knowledge and practical skills in migration governance, migrant protection, return and reintegration, diaspora engagement and labour migration.
Youth Work Training
Strengthening the skills of youth workers, youth leaders and organisations to plan, manage and evaluate youth programmes.
Career Guidance and Counselling Training
Equipping practitioners to support young people, migrants and jobseekers in making informed education, training and employment decisions.
Digitalisation, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Training
Developing practical digital skills and promoting the responsible use of innovation and artificial intelligence in education, work and business.
Creative Industries Training
Supporting young people to develop skills and income opportunities in arts, music, media, design and creative entrepreneurship.
AIMYD may deliver these programmes independently or in partnership with governments, training institutions, civil society organisations, private sector actors and development partners.
What we do
Research, policy, capacity & delivery.
From applied research to implementation — our work translates evidence into action across Africa.
- 1
Conduct research and policy analysis that informs migration, youth and sustainable development policies.
- 2
Facilitate policy dialogue and advocacy that shapes inclusive, responsive and forward-looking frameworks.
- 3
Deliver capacity building and training to strengthen skills, leadership and institutional capacity.
- 4
Design and implement development projects addressing migration, youth, governance, climate and inclusion.
- 5
Promote partnerships and knowledge exchange across governments, civil society, academia and the private sector.
- 6
Support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems to improve accountability and measure impact.
Our team
The people behind AIMYD.
Leadership committed to inclusive and sustainable development across Africa.
Lamin Jammeh
Head of Migration Governance
Sulayman Darboe
Head of Youth Development
Alex David Pratt
Head of Strategic Communication and Knowledge Management
Mariama Ceesay
Administration and Finance Officer
Impact in motion
From conversations to commitments.
Moments from our engagements, training sessions, regional workshops and international convenings.
Our partners
We work with a wide network of partners.
▸Governments & public institutions
▸Regional & international organisations
▸Academic & research institutions
▸Civil society organisations
▸Youth-led networks
▸Development partners
▸Private sector actors
▸Diaspora communities
Get involved
Partner with us to advance inclusive development.
Whether you're a government agency, public institution, development partner, research organisation, training institution, civil society organisation, or funding partner, we welcome opportunities to collaborate in driving sustainable development and shaping Africa's future together.