The Government of Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Government of India and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has officially opened the rehabilitated Skills Training Centre in Kambia as part of efforts to expand vocational training and economic opportunities, particularly for persons with disabilities.

The facility was officially opened on Thursday, 17 September 2026, with representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, the High Commission of India, UNDP and the United Nations Country Team participating in the ceremony.

The rehabilitation forms part of a US$990,000 project funded by the Government of India through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and implemented by UNDP in collaboration with national partners.

The initiative is supporting the rehabilitation of six skills training centres across six districts in Sierra Leone, with the facilities in Kambia and Kenema already completed.

The Kambia Skills Training Centre has been equipped with 80 sewing machines, eight computers and other essential vocational training materials to improve access to practical skills development.

Training at the centre will focus on sewing, welding, weaving and soap-making, providing beneficiaries with practical skills that could help them secure livelihoods, establish businesses and become more economically independent.

The project places particular emphasis on persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, with the broader objective of ensuring that more Sierra Leoneans have access to opportunities for skills development and economic participation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the High Commission of India in Sierra Leone, Neeraj Kumar Saini, reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting South-South cooperation, capacity building and inclusive development.

Neeraj Kumar Saini said the project reflects the shared principle of ensuring that no one is left behind in the development process, particularly people who have traditionally faced barriers to education, employment and economic opportunities.

The rehabilitation and equipping of the centre are expected to strengthen vocational education in Kambia District by creating an environment where beneficiaries can acquire practical and marketable skills.

The initiative also seeks to promote entrepreneurship by enabling trainees to use their acquired skills to generate income, establish small businesses and contribute to economic activities within their communities.

The Government of India and Sierra Leone have maintained longstanding bilateral relations based on cooperation in several areas, including capacity building and human development.

The India-UN Development Partnership Fund supports development projects across the Global South, with initiatives designed to respond to priorities identified by partner countries.

The opening of the Kambia Skills Training Centre represents another step in efforts to improve access to inclusive vocational education while creating opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate more fully in Sierra Leone’s social and economic development. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64628