Uzbekistan Youth Employment Skills Activity Annual Performance Report FY23 Quarter 3 April 2023 – June 2023

The activity focuses on three objectives: improving the quality of school-based economics and entrepreneurship programs, improving the quality of afterschool entrepreneurship, soft skills, and work readiness programs, and strengthening the enabling environment to support and engage youth. To achieve Objective 1, the activity will update the curricula and teaching and learning materials used for Grades 8-11 economics and entrepreneurship instruction, in collaboration with MoPSE agencies and the private sector. The revised curricula will be tested in schools in the pilot region through a randomized control trial (RCT). Objective 2 aims to improve the quality of after-school entrepreneurship, soft skills, and work readiness programs. The activity will strengthen partnerships with MoPSE and private sector stakeholders, as well as local government and community organizations in the target pilot region. Private sector perspectives will be integrated into the development of curricula and programming, and opportunities for hands-on training of youth through job shadowing and mentorship will be created. Objective 3 focuses on building attitudes and behaviors conducive to youth, women, and girls, and people with disabilities entering the workforce. Activities under this objective will target and support behavior change in four groups in the target pilot region: youth participants (Grades 8-11), parents, teachers/mentors, and employers. The activity will engage with private sector partners to create opportunities for hands-on training of youth through job shadowing and mentorship. Private sector perspectives will be integrated into the development of curricula and programming. The activity will also leverage private sector partnerships to create opportunities for youth to gain work experience and develop skills. The YES Activity will be implemented in the Fergana region, with a focus on the following districts: Fergana, Kuvasay, and Margilon. The activity will engage with local government and community organizations to ensure that the needs of the target population are met. The activity will be implemented over a period of five years, from January 2022 to December 2026. The total budget for the activity is $10 million, provided by USAID. The activity will be implemented by American Councils for International Education, in partnership with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education (MoPSE) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The YES Activity aims to achieve the following outcomes: * Improve the quality of school-based economics and entrepreneurship programs * Improve the quality of afterschool entrepreneurship, soft skills, and work readiness programs * Strengthen the enabling environment to support and engage youth * Strengthen the enabling environment