The Issue
Karamoja has a high poverty rate of 66%, exceeding the national average of 20.3%. Food insecurity and famine are common due to climate-related livelihoods. The youth population faces high poverty, illiteracy, and limited access to opportunities. 86% of the young population has never attended school, and teenage pregnancies and school dropout rates are high. The prolonged COVID-19 closures have further exacerbated these issues.
Insecurity in Karamoja is exacerbated by idleness, crime, mental health issues, and alcohol and drug abuse. The EU has supported youth empowerment, but demand remains high due to high deprivation levels and the need for peacebuilding integration in future actions.
The Project
The project aimed to empower 2,430 youth in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region through increased participation in policy, sustainable income generation, and life skills training across nine districts. It focused on youth skills development and training, targeting 2,430 youth aged 16-30 in Uganda. The training aimed to benefit 1,350 youth, 150 per district, while 1,080 youth would benefit from advocacy training, with 54 youth groups per district. The goal was to involve young people in public affairs.
By obtaining essential skills and gaining access to respectable job opportunities, Karamoja youth may sustain their economic livelihoods while also contributing to peace and security. Multi-sector cooperation gives them the confidence to speak up and engage in public affairs.
The Change
The project created skilled youth who are able to participate in policy, decision-making, and development processes. Consortium partners increased access to decent work opportunities, strengthened rights, voice, and advocacy, and strengthened linkages between youth, youth groups and the private sector. Innovative multi-sector partnerships further strengthened these partnerships.
The economic impact of skilling and training youth increased opportunities for vocational training, apprenticeships, and employment in various sectors, supporting sustainable income generation, reducing youth unemployment and poverty, and generating disposable income in local communities and districts, thereby reducing poverty and unemployment.
The youth enhanced their social networks and capital through youth organizations and better connections to external opportunities. They also strengthened their social cohesion and organization through governance and finance skills training, advocacy, and financial inclusion through VSLA efforts. This increased their chances of accessing government and private sector opportunities, reduced youth idleness and crime, and promoted training, apprenticeships, and self-employment.
Technichal Explainer
- VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association): A community-based financial group that allows members to save money, access small loans, and obtain emergency insurance through pooled savings.
- BVET (Basic Vocational Education and Training): Initial training programs focused on providing foundational vocational skills to enhance employability and support economic development.
- TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training): Education and training programs aimed at equipping individuals with technical skills and knowledge for specific trades or professions to improve workforce readiness and economic growth.
The action aimed to popularize and push for the implementation of youth policies like the National Youth Policy and BVET and TVET policies at the district level. It involved discussions among various stakeholders, including youth, youth organisations, the private sector, and community leaders. This information was crucial for policy evaluation and review, particularly within the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The Results
The project reached 2,508 youth and delivered strong results in vocational skilling and transition to work as well as advocacy skilling and participation of youth in decision-making processes.
- Of the total reached, 1,370 youth were trained in vocational skilling to support their transition to work. Of these, 1,278 attained Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) certification, significantly enhancing their labour market credibility
- 1,138 youth received advocacy and governance skills training, strengthening their ability to engage meaningfully in civic processes and influence decision‑making at community and district levels. District-level advocacy networks were established in every district, creating sustainable platforms for collective youth action and coordination with duty bearers.
- Follow‑up findings indicate that 1142 youth were actively applying their vocational and business skills through self-employment, formal and semi-formal work
- Young people actively participated in popularising the TVET policy and contributed to drafting youth position papers in five sub‑counties across Southern Karamoja, ensuring that local priorities were documented and presented to decision‑makers
Inyuat’s story
Targeted outreach to marginalised girls enabled their participation in non‑traditional vocational trades. One example is Inyuat Hellen Christine, an 18‑year‑old from Abim District, who enrolled at Achangali Vocational Training Institute to study motorcycle mechanics, a field rarely pursued by women in her community. Upon completing her training and receiving a start‑up kit, Hellen secured employment at M&F Motor Spares, earning approximately UGX 220,000 per month. Her income now contributes to household needs, supports siblings’ education, and covers medical costs.
The Partners
DCA worked in a consortium with two partners to implement the project:
Cooperation and Development (C&D)
Cooperation and Development is the operational branch of the Movement Africa Mission, currently present in Uganda with two permanent branches in Kampala and Moroto. The NGO works in a handful of different areas of intervention, including WASH, health, education, agriculture, and emergency interventions.
Arid Land Development Programme (ADP)
ADP is a Christian organization founded in 2004 with the aim of serving the poor and marginalized persons in the Karamoja sub-region. The organization is engaged in several interventions targeting improvement in the livelihood of the beneficiaries through multiple vocational and enterprise skills training and other livelihood sector.
Our Work
Through the goal of “Building Resilient Communities“, DCA focuses on building the economic, social, and environmental resilience of marginalized communities by increasing their production, income, and employment opportunities. DCA economically empowers marginalized young people by equipping them with marketable skills that enable them to become competitive in the workplace.
About the project
Title: Increasing Opportunities for Youth Participation and Empowerment (IOYPE) in Karamoja
Period: January 2023 – December 2025
Local Partners: Cooperation and Development (C&D) and Arid Land Development Program (ADP)
Amount: EUR 750,000
Outreach: 2,430 youth (55% female)
Donor: European Union (EUR 600,000) and DANIDA (EUR 150,000)
