October 11, 2024, | Kampala, Uganda
PEP researchers presented findings from their review of youth employment policies in Uganda.
The National Policy Conference on the Review of Youth Employment Policies and their Impact in Uganda convened leaders, policymakers, civil society, and private sector actors to evaluate and propose reforms to Uganda’s youth employment landscape. Organized with support from PEP and Mastercard Foundation, the event showcased research findings by a team led by Edward Bbaale, Peter Babyenda, and others from Makerere University.
The conference revealed that while Youth Employment Programs (YEPs) such as the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), and the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl Child have positively contributed to youth empowerment, major challenges persist. Key successes include startup capital provision, expansion grants, new legislative initiatives like the Start-Up Bill and Youth Support Bill, and better inclusion of marginalized groups, including women and refugees.
Senior officials such as Hon. Dr. Balaam Barugahare, State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, and Dr. Faith Katana Mirembe, Special Presidential Assistant on Education and Skilling, emphasized the importance of evidence-based policymaking and youth mindset transformation for sustained progress.
The event also catalyzed new strategic partnerships, notably with UN Women, signalling future collaborations aimed at further empowering young people, particularly women and marginalized groups.
The audience actively engaged during the panel and plenary sessions, raising critical issues such as:
- Inadequate tracking and monitoring systems for YEPs
- Need for smarter, more targeted recommendations
- Involvement of standards bodies like UNBS to support youth entrepreneurs
- Importance of social behaviour change and commercialization of university-led innovations
Discussions highlighted the need to align programs with the upcoming National Development Plan (NDP III) and to expand youth access to profitable markets.
One notable takeaway was the need to improve dissemination methods. The team plans to design fliers summarizing key findings and actionable recommendations to better inform stakeholders and decision-makers.
The study identified the necessity for tailored YEPs targeted at specific youth groups and recommended holistic support systems addressing both supply-side (skilling) and demand-side (job creation) constraints.
Media Coverage
The event received coverage from major outlets including Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, New Vision and YouTube platforms.
