Feed the Future Uganda Youth Leadership for Agriculture Activity Annual Report

The activity is focused on achieving two objectives: increased incomes of youth working in agricultural value chains and improved skills development through formal and non-formal education and training organizations. Uganda's population is characterized by a significant youth bulge, with over 400,000 youth entering the labor market each year and competing for only 80,000 formal jobs. The country's economy is reliant on agriculture for growth and food security, with 75 percent of the workforce engaged in this sector, including 55 percent of youth and 70 to 80 percent of all women. The YLA activity supports Ugandan partners, with youth in the lead, to identify and drive forward sustainable, inclusive, and cost-effective approaches that put youth, especially female youth, squarely in the agriculture sector as leaders, farmers, entrepreneurs, and employees. The implementation strategy of YLA is crafted around a youth-driven approach that prioritizes facilitation, targets in-school and out-of-school youth, and leverages the private sector and workforce institutions to ensure buy-in and sustainability of interventions. The activity relies on an evidence-based and participatory mapping process that identifies age-appropriate needs, aspirations, and opportunities for youth in order to inform program design and implementation. The YLA activity has a period of performance spanning July 14, 2015 – July 13, 2020, and is funded by a $21.5 million contract. The activity is focused on creating agriculture sector opportunities for rural youth, given the significant role that agriculture plays in Uganda's economy and the fact that 75 percent of the workforce is engaged in this sector. In order to achieve its objectives, YLA is implementing a range of interventions, including business development services, market-driven technical skills training, and producer organization development. The activity is also working to improve access to and application of improved technologies and management practices, as well as to increase youth participation in social, entrepreneurship, and community engagement activities. The YLA activity is being implemented in partnership with a range of stakeholders, including the Government of Uganda, private sector companies, and non-governmental organizations. The activity is also working closely with other USAID-funded activities and donors to leverage resources and expertise and to ensure that the program is aligned with national priorities and strategies. Overall, the YLA activity is focused on creating sustainable and inclusive opportunities for Ugandan youth in the agriculture sector, with a particular emphasis on increasing the incomes and skills development of youth working in agricultural value chains. The activity is being implemented through a range of interventions and partnerships, and is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of thousands of young people in Uganda.