USAID’s Building the Potential of Youth Quarterly Report Year Four Quarter Two

The Activity is implemented by Save the Children Federation, Inc. and its partners, including Education Development Center, Inc., HUNDEE-Oromo Grassroots Development Initiative, Professional Alliance for Development in Ethiopia, Relief Society of Tigray, and Facilitator for Change Ethiopia. The goal of the Activity is for unemployed and underemployed Ethiopian youth ages 15-29 in rural areas and towns to attain the skills, knowledge, and social capital that leads to increased income and long-term economic self-sufficiency. To achieve this goal, the Activity focuses on three Intermediate Results: IR 1, IR 2, and IR 3. IR 1 aims to develop a rigorous evidence base to inform USAID and its development partners on effective and sustainable market-driven youth workforce development interventions. IR 2 seeks to improve youth access to market-relevant skills and experiences to support the transition to safe and viable employment. IR 3 aims to coordinate the delivery of quality market-driven services among local institutions, connecting underserved youth, especially women, to employment and income opportunities. The Activity's youth livelihoods framework encompasses the development of young people's human, social, financial, and physical capital while building the capacity of local service providers. POTENTIAL's strategic approach responds to unemployed and underemployed youth's capacity needs, leverages existing youth development activities, and contributes to improving the quality and accountability of local training and business service providers. The Activity uses targeted labor market assessments to ensure training and service providers consider market relevance, focusing on skills building and expanding approaches and offerings in work-based learning. POTENTIAL has completed three years of implementation and is now in the second quarter of the fourth year. During this period, the Activity is offering youth between 15 and 29 years of age a menu of up to eight training modules and integrated employability interventions that provide knowledge and support to enhance their assets. The Activity has identified labor market needs and is preparing youth to fill those needs through local market assessments, matching, and stimulating the supply and demand of the workforce. In the reporting period from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, POTENTIAL made significant progress in achieving its Intermediate Results. The Activity conducted labor market assessments in six regions, including Afar, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Somali, and Tigray. These assessments identified emerging skills needs and informed the development of training programs and services. The Activity also established partnerships with local institutions, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to deliver quality market-driven services. POTENTIAL's implementation challenges include ensuring the sustainability of the Activity's interventions and building the capacity of local service providers. The Activity is addressing these challenges through the development of a sustainability plan and the provision of training and technical assistance to local partners. The Activity is also working to improve the quality and accountability of local training and business service providers by ensuring existing entities work in concert. In conclusion, USAID's Building the Potential of Youth is a critical Activity that aims to promote opportunities for young Ethiopians to positively contribute to the betterment of society. The Activity has made significant progress in achieving its Intermediate Results and is working to address implementation challenges to ensure the sustainability of its interventions.