West African municipalities launch entrepreneurship programs for returning migrants

In Senegal and The Gambia, new initiatives are being implemented to support the economic reintegration of migrants returning from abroad through entrepreneurship and skills training.

In the Kaffrine region of Senegal, the BAOS and the International Organization for Migration (IOM Senegal) have trained 60 returnees. The program, supported by the Direction des Sénégalais de l'Extérieur (DSE), focuses on financial management, marketing strategies, and leadership to help participants establish sustainable businesses and generate local employment.

In The Gambia, the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), led by Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has launched a Migrant Resilience Hub. Funded by the Mayors Migration Council’s Global Cities Fund 2025, the initiative provides 20 selected beneficiaries with training and business support in sectors such as catering, tailoring, and waste collection. The program also incorporates psychosocial support and childcare to assist participants in managing personal and family challenges during their professional transition.