Addressing Uganda’s youth employment challenge is a major development imperative. Youth are central to unlocking the development potential of the country and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A recent report from the National Planning Authority (NPA) revealed that 4.2 million youths in Uganda are ‘Neither in Employment, Education, nor Training- NEETs, with 43.5% of these within the Busoga region. The region has also, in the last couple of years, seen a growing number of its youth travel abroad for work, particularly to The Middle East.

Providing young people with market-relevant skills and facilitating access to innovative financing and an improved business sector is fundamental for ensuring economic growth and stability in the region in the long term.

The Stimulating Agribusiness for Youth Employment (SAYE) project

During the last couple of years, Heifer Uganda’s evaluation and learnings from the East Africa Youth Inclusion Project (EAYIP) has informed the creation of the SAYE project, with four major objectives:

• To facilitate the acquisition of market-relevant skills for young people, including women, to increase access and utilisation of quality services and market opportunities by 2029.
• To build self-sustaining youth agri-hubs and an MSME ecosystem to stimulate job creation for young people by 2029.
• To facilitate access to innovative financing mechanisms for young entrepreneurs to start or expand opportunities by 2029.
• To improve the business environment for young people, including women, to access resources and job opportunities in Busoga region by 2029.

Last week, we joined our consortium partners in a focal workshop to finalise the execution plan for a 5-year youth empowerment project. This initiative aims to foster market-relevant skills development, facilitate access to financing, build a self-sustaining MSME ecosystem and improve the business environment for young people in the Busoga region.

Heifer Programs Director, John Ssenyonga addresses consortium partners, highlighting the value of collaboration in creating impactful programs.

The workshop was a convergence of ideas and strategies, focused on maximising the impact of our collective efforts. Key highlights included:

1. Strategic Planning: Detailed discussions on recruitment, training, and incubation plans to ensure comprehensive support for youth participants.
2. Collaborative Sessions: Interactive sessions where consortium partners shared insights and developed cohesive action plans.
3. Unified Vision: Reinforcement of our shared commitment to empowering youth and driving sustainable community development.

Working alongside the consortium partners, ASIGMA will manage a two-million-dollar fund, track its utilisation by value at institutional level and document lessons learned on the management and deployment of the fund.

Our Programs Manager, Joel Kasibante shares on our fund management strategy to facilitate access to innovative financing mechanisms for young entrepreneurs in the region.

The other consortium partners include FSDU, who will also support with access to finance channel and production of materials in line with financial management, FSME, who will create training manuals for business start-ups to ensure businesses are compliant to the business laws of the land, CURAD, who will formulate training materials, share knowledge packs and manuals for incubates, and Heifer Uganda, who are the leading partners on the project.

A panel including representatives from each of the consortium partners breaking down the execution plan for the 5-year project.

Who are we targeting?

The project aims to empower 250,000 young people aged 16-35 (70% females and 3% youth with disabilities).

Where is the SAYE project implemented?

The project is implemented in 11 districts of Busoga, including Jinja, Mayuge, Iganga, Kamuli, Kaliro, Namutumba, Bugweri, Luka, Buyende, Bugiri and Namayengo.

How will SAYE support youth transition into dignified and fulfilling work?

In line with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works in Uganda strategy, SAYE is using private sector-led and value chain development approaches while integrating ecosystem strengthening and community-led development. SAYE is focusing on addressing market system barriers for youth to work while building and strengthening systems and structures as enablers for youth to secure dignified and fulfilling work.

Mastercard Foundation’s Program Lead, Youth Engagement, Fiona Awilli explains the Young Africa Works strategy focus on the empowerment of young people, considering the inclusion of young women and youth with disabilities.

The project focuses on four intervention areas – skills development, equitable access to markets, innovative and inclusive finance and the enabling environment to realise the desired outcomes.

What support and services does SAYE offer to the young people in the Busoga region?

• Training in market-relevant skills
• Business incubation, mentoring and coaching services
• Digital extension services and market information
• Internship, job placement and apprenticeship services
• Business Development services
• Market brokerage services to stimulate access to profitable and reliable markets
• Quick and reliable financing fit for the sector and target participants
• Platforms for youth engagement and participation

The SAYE project is implemented by Heifer International in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and consortium partners including ASIGMA, Financial Sector Deepening Uganda (FSD Uganda), Federation of Small & Medium Enterprises-Uganda (FSME) and CURAD.