Feasibility Study in Sierra Leone

DEPA Consulting has completed a comprehensive feasibility study for the Salesians of Don Bosco  Sierra Leone (SDB), establishing a strategic roadmap for the project: "Promotion of TVET for Vulnerable Youthsin Bo”.

Bo City has long faced high youth unemployment, limited access to quality vocational training, and growing demand for skilled labour. To combat this, the SDB aims to establish the region’s first TVET center - a hub designed to provide hands-on, accredited training specifically for vulnerable youth and young women.

DEPA Consulting’s study provided a thorough assessment by analyzing key prerequisites, opportunities, and risks, while offering actionable recommendations to optimize the project design. The study evaluated the plausibility of achieving intended outcomes within the local context and assessed the project concept using OECD-DAC evaluation criteria to ensure its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. 

To assess the project’s plausibility, a mixed-methods approach was used, including

• Representative face-to-face surveys with over 200 youth and potential beneficiaries to capture their needs and aspirations,
• focus group discussions and key informant interviews with educators, students, graduates, private-sector leaders, and public stakeholders, 
• physical assessments of infrastructure and training environments to ensure alignment with modern technical standards.

By assessing the technical, institutional, and financial feasibility of the proposed TVET centre, the study provided Don Bosco with a solid and strategic foundation for implementation. These findings demonstrate that the initiative is not only viable but also urgent and essential to addressing the skills gap, youth marginalisation, and low employability in Bo District and, more broadly, across Sierra Leone.