Youth Midline Self-Assessment Report: USAID YOUTHPOWER Activity

Initial assessments identified challenges in youth's preparedness to enter higher education, vocational training, and/or the workforce. The program aimed to improve opportunity, well-being, and civic engagement for youth. Implementation focused on three key interventions: training programs, infrastructure development, and market linkage facilitation. The midline evaluation aimed to assess the project's impact midway through the program period. The evaluation used a self-report questionnaire to collect data from 1141 youth in targeted communities. The questionnaire covered demographic information, education, voluntarism, civic engagement, and attitudinal and self-assessment information. The evaluation found that the project showed a great increase in youth's preparedness to enter higher education, vocational training, and/or the workforce. The reported increase in percent of youth reporting positive value and/or recognition by adults at the conclusion of training/programming was 76%. Additionally, youth reported an increase in their awareness of the statement 'lots of bored youth is a problem in their community' and an increase in reporting disagreement that 'the people who work hardest are never rewarded the most'. The evaluation also found that youth reported an increase in their awareness of the importance of allowing males and females having equal access to social, economic, and political opportunities. However, the evaluation highlighted the need to review and strengthen the program's strategy in terms of raising awareness around gender equality and increasing awareness around the importance of allowing males and females having equal access to social, economic, and political opportunities. The evaluation recommended that the program should review and strengthen its strategy in terms of raising awareness around gender equality and increasing awareness around the importance of allowing males and females having equal access to social, economic, and political opportunities. The evaluation also recommended that the program should focus on increasing youth's preparedness to enter higher education, vocational training, and/or the workforce.