Problem or Promise? Harnessing Youth Potential in Uganda

"Uganda has the world’s youngest population and the highest prevalence of poverty among its
youth. Of its population of 30.7 million, 57 percent are below the age of 18... Uganda’s youth hold the key to their country’s social and economic development. Their energy, vibrancy and entrepreneurial spirit - not to mention their commitment to improving their own and their communities’ lives and circumstances - will be a huge asset for the country if these passions can be harnessed..."

From BRAC's Youth Watch team in Uganda, this report shares lessons from the Research and Evaluation Unit mixed-methods research, including a nationally representative survey of youth, focus groups, and in-depth case studies. "Chapter 1 introduces the conceptual framework used in this report and describes the research methodology....Chapter 2 presents the asset portfolio of Ugandan youth....Chapter 3 outlines the position of youth in the family, community and political participation....Chapter 4 discusses the perceived opportunities of Ugandan youth, versus their aspirations....Chapter 5 outlines the negative outcomes of Ugandan youth, focusing on risky sexual behaviour....Chapter 5 outlines the negative outcomes of Ugandan youth, focusing on risky sexual behaviour...Chapter 6 concludes the report with examples of success stories among youth and identifies the main policy recommendations from the study." [Footnotes are removed by the editor.]

The report points out the need for a comprehensive approach that emphasises employment and institutional support. "Improved support from communities and local governments along with increased access to financial services and vocational training are key to facilitate healthy transition of youth into adulthood.....The combination of the multiple barriers facing youth - including limited assets and support, difficult economic, political and social environments, and limited perceived opportunities for the future - negatively influences the self-esteem, motivations, and aspirations of youth." The barriers faced increase possibilities of behaviours that can result in early pregnancy in young women and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.

Surveyed youth favoured vocational training as the strongest educational choice, including life skills, financial literacy, and negotiation skills, because, according to the survey, securing employment is the most important reason for education. "Education also has implications for youth in the transition to citizenship given the higher status and respect it accords to them, particularly at secondary and higher levels....Focus must shift away from a well-acknowledged emphasis of the importance of vocational training towards an understanding of how to package vocational training courses and complement them with post-training and other forms of support so that transferred skills are easier to utilise... This requires not only aligning courses with labour market demand, but also focusing on the quality of training....Access to finance and stronger focus on complementary forms of skills development may also improve outcomes. Financial literacy, customer relations, and other skills gained through work experience are also important for successful entrepreneurs." Financial services accessed in urban areas include bank savings accounts, but loan programmes are much more difficult for youth to access.

Youth have few physical assets, but, notably, they have relatively good access to information through mobile phone ownership and radio. "This provides an important entry point for youth programmes. [S]everal youth-targeted radio programmes have had a positive impact on increasing awareness and contributing to behavioural change among youth through radio programmes, and UNICEF [the United Nations Children's Fund]'s U-report initiative utilises mobile technologies to engage with youth on monitoring burning issues in their communities."

In terms of social capital, "...household support is key to the social and economic development of youth, as well as their psychosocial well-being." Family stability has been affected by AIDS and poverty, leaving orphaned children and adolescents facing difficulties of a greater magnitude than their peers. Family or foster backgrounds can affect such behaviours as diverse as alcohol consumption and civic involvement. "As well as through strong family foundations, youth can further accumulate social capital by participating more widely in social and political life: this represents the transition from being a citizen towards ‘active’ citizenship...." Volunteer activities through clubs and groups, including sports clubs, music and dance groups, and religious groups, can offer youth the development of social competencies, such as self-esteem, and a forum through which they can socialise, as well as: get emotional support, learn new skills, meet mentors, interact with positive role models, and do physical exercise.

Employment is a large "pull" and "push" factor in migration to urban areas. "Usually youth migrate with no prearranged job and the anticipation of finding employment on arrival." Migrants face difficulties including discrimination, lack of shelter, low-wage opportunities, if any, police suspicion, and an even more pronounced vulnerability among women due to jobs that lead to sexually risky behaviours. Youth-friendly health services (a case study of Straight Talk Foundation (STF) youth centres is included - for more on STF, see Related Summaries below) are needed for increasing youth access. Effective youth employment programmes are outlined on page 105, box 15, and include mentorship, skills training, on-the-job work experience, financial access, and an improved regulatory climate. A case study of shifting from subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture highlights a farming association that was formed by a youth entrepreneur to increase the business and farming knowledge of members, as well as their markets.

The document concludes with an emphasis on youth potential and energy as assets, while pointing to the need for a more supportive environment for youth.