How Should Uganda’s National Youth Policy Be Redesigned?

Abstract

In Uganda 25.5 per cent of the young population are either unemployed or underemployed. The agricultural sector is the country’s economic backbone with capacity to provide jobs for young people. Uganda’s National Youth Policy (NYP) launched in 2001 to support young people in developing businesses through its Youth Livelihood Fund. However, the Fund has faced challenges and in 2017 was suspended, with youth unemployment remaining a pressing problem. Drawing on a study of Ugandan young people supported by the NYP and working in the maize industry, this IDS Policy Briefing identifies what went wrong and makes recommendations to support Uganda’s young entrepreneurs into the future.