Empower YOU – Empowering Youth Organisations in Uganda

finished

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts youth at the centre of world’s future: «The future of humanity and of our planet lies […] in the hands of today's younger generation who will pass the torch to future generations». In recent years, Uganda’s government has focused on youth engagement among its core principles and policies in its development activities. Nevertheless, youth still lack the possibilities of leveraging on many opportunities that the country offers.

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world and its working-age population is projected to double by 2040. With a total population of around 48 million, the Ugandan population is made up mostly of young people, with close to 80% of the population below 30 years of age (NPA 2020).

It is estimated that over a million young people are entering the job market in Uganda each year. There are not enough decent jobs available, which has already led to high unemployment and, in particular, underemployment of youths. Uganda’s youth job creation challenge is in many ways typical of the Sub-Saharan African region. The present project tackles youth unemployment by connecting economic empowerment to encouragement of participation in advocacy around policy issues affecting youth.

The consortium, led by Caritas Switzerland (CACH), includes StartHub Africa (StartHub) and Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalisation (GWED-G). Together, it seeks to empower youth through (i) the enhancement of sustainable income generation and life skills as well as (ii) the promotion of youth participation in policy, decision-making and development processes at national and local levels for increased social and economic inclusion.

The project supports existing Micro and Small Enterprises (Outcome 1), facilitates youth participation in policy, decision-making and development processes at national and local levels (Outcome 2) and strengthens Civil Society Organisation (CSO) systems for equitable, inclusive and sustained youth development (Outcome 3).

The Empower YOU project is based on the logic that if youth entrepreneurs, especially young women, are able to access targeted support through strengthened CSOs, they can overcome obstacles to successful entrepreneurship. Accessing business-related services offered by CSOs will better equip them to generate a stable income and understand policy processes that directly affect them. Greater financial stability and learning will in turn empower youth to deploy their practical experiences towards their personal development, while holding decision-makers accountable for delivering policies affecting youth empowerment and entrepreneurship in Uganda.

The project focuses on the main thematic field of income, as articulated in Caritas Switzerland’s IC strategy 2021-2025.

The project aims to support Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and create Youth Business Associations (YBA) to enhance the social and economic inclusion of vulnerable people like women, youth and persons with disabilities at all governance levels. The project promotes entrepreneurship skills and sustainable business development through training on key skills and the delivery of microgrants as well as the promotion of favourable framework conditions and networks for income-generating activities.