Feasibility Determination: Huguka Dukore Mid-Term Performance Evaluation

The activity's primary goals are to increase stable employment opportunities, including self-employment, for vulnerable youth; to improve youth training and employment systems; and to increase investment in skills for vulnerable youth. The program focus is on work readiness and linkages to, or the creation of, employment opportunities. The activity is primarily funded and supported by the Education Office, but includes Economic Growth and Health support as well. Over 60 percent of the Rwandan population is 25 years or younger, presenting a huge risk, as well as an opportunity, for Rwanda's ambitious plans for development and transformation. The Government of Rwanda's highest-level strategies contain a major emphasis on tapping into and developing the country's human capital in order to spur economic growth. Huguka Dukore builds on previous USAID programming, including a work readiness curriculum that has been adopted by the Government of Rwanda. The activity assesses and shares data on employment and labor market demand, builds capacity of local implementing partners to deliver market-driven employment preparation and job intermediation services, and trains youth with relevant skills for work and self-employment. While youth and workforce development is recognized as a priority for the USAID/Rwanda Mission, as well as the Government of Rwanda, much remains to be done. The activity focuses on improving young people's work readiness skills and employment opportunities through several key activities, including assessing and sharing data on employment opportunities, building capacity of local organizations to deliver employment skills preparation and job intermediation services, training youth in relevant job skills for work and self-employment, and growing the Akazi Kanoze network of local youth-serving organizations and employment resources. Huguka Dukore is one of several USAID/Rwanda Mission activities serving youth in some form, but the current USAID/Rwanda Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) may not adequately focus on either the youth population or workforce development. The USAID/Rwanda Mission requested a performance evaluation to determine the effectiveness of Huguka Dukore and its implementation thus far. The evaluation will examine the effectiveness of the project approach and implementation, assess the performance of the implementing partner, and identify areas for improvement or adjustment. The evaluation may explore how this activity relates to and feeds into the larger effort of USAID, the Government of Rwanda, and other partners in furthering the country's emphasis on human capital development. The evaluation team will feature a balanced mix of youth development, evaluation, and in-country expertise, including an Evaluation Team Lead, Senior Evaluation Specialist (Methodologist), Mid-level Evaluation Specialist, Youth Specialist (Positive Youth Development), and Local Evaluation Specialist. The evaluation is anticipated to take place in the first quarter of FY2019, in October or November 2018, allowing for adequate time within the second year of the project to effectively assess 2018 implementation.