Annual Progress Report—Year 1: USAID/DRC Integrated Youth Development Activity (IYDA)

The activity is implemented by Education Development Center (EDC) and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). IYDA's primary objective is to increase access to basic education, skills for positive youth development, and economic opportunities for young people in the DRC. The activity focuses on four intermediate results: IR 1.1, IR 1.2, IR 2, and IR 3, which are designed to achieve the overall goal of improving the lives of young people. IR 1.1 aims to increase access to basic education, while IR 1.2 focuses on increasing access to skills for positive youth development. IR 2 involves strengthening the capacity of youth-led and youth-serving institutions, increasing opportunities for positive youth engagement, and improving community and caretaker support for positive youth engagement. IR 3 aims to increase skills and resources for entrepreneurship and income generation, as well as market linkages for youth and youth-serving institutions. During the first year of implementation, IYDA made significant progress in achieving its objectives. The activity established partnerships with local organizations, trained over 2,500 youth in skills development, and provided support to over 1,000 youth-led and youth-serving institutions. IYDA also implemented a range of operational activities, including the establishment of a project management unit, a monitoring and evaluation system, and a security plan. The activity faced several challenges during the first year, including security concerns, logistical challenges, and limited resources. However, IYDA's team worked closely with local stakeholders to address these challenges and ensure the successful implementation of the activity. In terms of results, IYDA achieved significant progress in increasing access to basic education, skills for positive youth development, and economic opportunities for young people. The activity also made progress in strengthening the capacity of youth-led and youth-serving institutions, increasing opportunities for positive youth engagement, and improving community and caretaker support for positive youth engagement. The report highlights the importance of IYDA's work in improving the lives of young people in the DRC. The activity's focus on education, skills development, and economic empowerment is critical to addressing the country's youth unemployment and poverty challenges. The report also emphasizes the need for continued support from USAID and other stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of IYDA's efforts. Overall, the IYDA annual progress report for Fiscal Year 2018 provides a comprehensive overview of the activity's achievements and challenges during its first year of implementation. The report highlights the importance of IYDA's work in improving the lives of young people in the DRC and emphasizes the need for continued support to ensure the long-term sustainability of the activity's efforts.