Youth in Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face several challenges, many of which are interconnected and result from systemic issues.
Uganda: Although Uganda has one of the youngest populations globally, it faces high youth unemployment rates. Job opportunities are scarce, particularly for those without advanced education or technical skills. Youth often depend on subsistence agriculture, which provides limited income.
South Sudan: The ongoing conflict has led to economic instability, with limited access to jobs, especially in rural areas. Youth struggle to find employment due to the disruption of industries and markets.
DRC: In the DRC, the informal economy dominates, and many young people lack access to formal jobs. Persistent conflicts also undermine economic opportunities.
Uganda: Access to quality education is a challenge, particularly in rural areas. Many young people do not complete secondary school, leading to a skills gap that limits their employment prospects.
South Sudan: The education system in South Sudan has been heavily affected by years of conflict, with many schools destroyed or non-functional. There is a lack of vocational training programs to equip youth with practical skills.
DRC: The education infrastructure in DRC is weak, especially in conflict-affected regions. This limits young people’s ability to acquire the skills necessary for employment or entrepreneurship.
South Sudan and DRC: Youth in these countries are deeply affected by armed conflict and political instability. Many have been displaced, lost family members, or been forced to join militias. Conflict disrupts their education, limits their economic opportunities, and exacerbates poverty.
Uganda: Although relatively stable compared to its neighbors, youth in northern Uganda are still affected by the aftermath of past conflicts, including the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, which left a legacy of trauma and lost educational opportunities.
In all three countries, many young people live in poverty and lack access to basic resources such as healthcare, clean water, and adequate housing. This poverty limits their ability to invest in their futures, whether through education, entrepreneurship, or health.
Youth with Disabilities: In Uganda, South Sudan, and the DRC, youth with disabilities face discrimination and limited access to education, healthcare, and employment.
Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): Many young people in these regions are refugees or IDPs, particularly in South Sudan and DRC. They face significant challenges in accessing services, integrating into local economies, and overcoming trauma.
Reproductive Health: Access to reproductive health services is limited, leading to high rates of teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV/AIDS, particularly in Uganda and DRC.
Mental Health: Youth in conflict-affected areas face significant mental health challenges, including trauma from violence and displacement, with limited access to psychological support.
Young women in these countries face greater challenges due to traditional gender roles, limited access to education, early marriage, and gender-based violence. This exacerbates their vulnerability to poverty and social exclusion.
All three countries are vulnerable to climate change, which disproportionately affects young people who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Environmental degradation, including deforestation and desertification, reduces agricultural productivity and threatens food security.
Enhance Youth Employment and Economic Empowerment by focusing vocational and technical training programs that align with local market demands (agriculture, construction, IT, etc.), targeting youth in rural and conflict-affected areas., Establishing youth entrepreneurship hubs that offer mentorship, business development services, and access to microfinance and grants., Promoting agricultural value chains and agribusiness opportunities by supporting youth in adopting climate-resilient farming practices and market linkages and Facilitating public-private partnerships to create job opportunities, including internships and apprenticeships in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and services.
Increase Access to Quality Education and Skills Development by Rebuilding and equipping schools in conflict-affected regions with basic learning materials and digital education tools, developing mobile learning platforms and outreach programs to provide access to education for internally displaced youth and refugees. supporting scholarship programs and bursaries for disadvantaged youth, focusing on secondary and tertiary education and Establishing community-based learning canters offering alternative education pathways and life skills training for out-of-school youth.
Promote Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Among Youth by Training youth as peace ambassadors and mediators in their communities, facilitating dialogue and conflict resolution, establishing youth-led community peace forums to promote reconciliation, social cohesion, and healing from trauma, support community service programs where youth from different ethnic and conflict-affected groups collaborate on development projects, fostering unity. And providing psychosocial support and counselling services to youth affected by violence and displacement through safe spaces and mental health initiatives.
Address Gender Inequality and Promote Social Inclusion by Creating gender-specific empowerment programs for young women, focusing on entrepreneurship, leadership, and life skills, implementing awareness campaigns on gender-based violence and early marriage, integrating education on women’s rights and protection mechanisms, Supporting the formation of young women’s savings and loans associations (VSLA) to foster financial independence and access to resources. and establishing inclusive education and vocational programs for youth with disabilities, ensuring their integration into mainstream education and the workforce.
Improve Youth Health and Access to Healthcare Services by Increasing access to sexual and reproductive health services by establishing youth-friendly health canters in rural areas and refugee settlements, Conducting awareness and outreach programs on HIV/AIDS prevention, mental health, and reproductive health through community radio and mobile health clinics, Integrating mental health services, including trauma counselling, into existing healthcare facilities, with a focus on conflict-affected youth and Providing training for healthcare workers on addressing the specific needs of young people, particularly young women and youth with disabilities.
Build Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability for Youth by Training youth in sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient farming techniques, focusing on soil conservation, water management, and agroforestry, Engaging youth in reforestation and environmental conservation projects, providing incentives for youth-led green enterprises (e.g., eco-tourism, organic farming), supporting awareness campaigns on the impact of climate change and environmental degradation, encouraging youth participation in policy advocacy and decision-making processes and Establishing youth-led innovation labs that develop and implement climate-smart technologies and renewable energy solutions in their communities.
Empower Youth as Agents of Change and Community Leaders by Offering leadership development and civic education programs to equip youth with skills in governance, advocacy, and community organizing, Creating platforms for youth participation in local decision-making, allowing young people to engage with policymakers on issues that affect them, Facilitating youth-led research and documentation of challenges faced in their communities, providing data for effective policy development and Organizing youth conferences and forums to share best practices, network, and showcase successful youth-led initiatives in various sectors.
Foster Digital Inclusion and Access to Technology by Developing digital literacy training programs for youth, focusing on digital economy opportunities such as e-commerce, software development, and remote work, providing access to affordable internet and technology by setting up community internet hubs and digital innovation canters, Promoting the use of mobile applications for agricultural extension services, market information, and financial inclusion in rural areas. and partnering with tech companies and development organizations to offer coding boot camps and tech incubators, nurturing youth-led digital start-ups.