YouLead – Youth Employment and Business Start-Up Program Sri Lanka Annual Report - Year One

The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented by the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) in partnership with the International Executive Service Corps (IESC). The program's main objective is to increase the employability of youth in Sri Lanka by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to secure employment in the formal sector. The program focuses on three key components: increasing youth employability skills, improving the quality and relevance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and increasing prospects for successful self-employment. In the first year of the program, which ran from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018, the program achieved several milestones. The program's administrative and operational milestones included the establishment of a project office, the recruitment of staff, and the development of a project management information system. The program's technical activities focused on increasing youth employability skills, improving the quality and relevance of TVET, and increasing prospects for successful self-employment. The program provided training to over 2,500 youth in areas such as market trends, career guidance, and entrepreneurship. The program also improved the quality and relevance of TVET by introducing new demand-driven courses and upgrading instructional equipment and teaching materials. The program's monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system was established to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The MEL system included a performance indicator reference sheet (PIRS) that outlined the program's key performance indicators. Despite the program's achievements, several challenges were faced during the first year. These included delays in the recruitment of staff, difficulties in accessing finance, and challenges in implementing the program's technical activities. However, the program's team worked to address these challenges and implement solutions. The program's financial management was also a key area of focus. The program's budget was managed in accordance with USAID's financial management guidelines, and the program's financial reports were submitted to USAID on a quarterly basis. In the next quarter of the program, which is the second quarter of fiscal year 2019, the program plans to focus on several key areas. These include increasing the number of youth trained in employability skills, improving the quality and relevance of TVET, and increasing prospects for successful self-employment. The program also plans to establish partnerships with key stakeholders, including the government of Sri Lanka, the private sector, and civil society organizations. Overall, the YouLead program has made significant progress in its first year, and the program's team is committed to continuing to work towards its objectives in the coming years.