SKILL UP! KAMPALA PROJECT

SKILL UP! KAMPALA PROJECT

Project duration
October 2018-March 2023

Context
Uganda has one of the fastest growing populations in the world with 78% of its people aged 30 years and below. At the same time, youth unemployment is one of the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of Uganda’s youth lack marketable skills. Access to vocational training is limited coupled with limited involvement of the private sector in the development of curricula, skills delivery and certification.
The outbreak of COVID-19 and its restrictions to contain the pandemic have adversely hurt the economy. There is a significant fall in SME productivity and job opportunities.

Skill Up! program was set up to address these challenge
Skill Up! Kampala is a program of Welthungerhilfe in cooperation with the
Uganda Small Scales Industries Association (USSIA) and Kiyita Family Alliance
for Development (KIFAD), aiming at improving employability of youth through enterprise based skills training.
The Program is Funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ)

The Project Objective:
The youth in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso successfully use improved non-formal education and training opportunities and support offered by USSIA and its members to overcome unemployment and poverty.

Activities

• Develop capacity of training enterprises to provide high- quality, curriculum based vocational training beyond the duration of the Skill Up! Project.
• Deliver market relevant and curriculum based vocational skills training through 60 USSIA members enterprises using enterprise based approach.
• Deliver Life Skills and Entrepreneurship training for mindset, behavioral change and work readiness.
• Support establishment of startups through provision of starter kits
• Further support is through mentorship and consultancy services through USSIA and partners.
• Curricula and standardization for non-formal vocational skills training.
• Organization of youth in Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA).
• Post-training support (mentoring, start-up kits, internships, business training).

Our Target Group

• 1,500 Unemployed and Underemployed youth from socioeconomically  constrained backgrounds.
• 60 non-formal vocational training small scale enterprises

Focus Areas

1. Training enterprises qualified to competently conduct market oriented training courses and Internships for young people in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso.
2. Offer consultancy services and business startups advice tailored to the needs of young People and young entrepreneurs.
3. Micro and small enterprises are strengthened in their role of providing training for young people through image and marketing work.
4. Partner capacities strengthened.
5. The population in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso have increased knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms, transmission and prevention.

Stakeholders

• District Local Governments of Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso
• Ministry of education and Sports (Directorate of Industrial Training)