When youth potential meets opportunity, transformation happens

Uganda has the second youngest population in the world, with over 78% of its citizens under the age of 35 — a figure expected to double within the next 25 years, with children aged 17 and below making up 50.5% of the population, while youth aged 18 to 30 account for 22.7%. However, the National Labour Force Survey (2021) highlights a significant employment gap: only 37% of youth aged 18–30 are employed, while 41% are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

In response to this pressing need, ChildFund implements programs that equip young people with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. We focus on building life skills, enhancing employability, and promoting entrepreneurship among youth. Through partnerships with local organizations, the private sector, and government agencies, ChildFund supports vocational training, mentorship, financial literacy, and access to startup capital. These initiatives are designed to support young people, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, to transition successfully into the workforce and become agents of change in their communities.

Our Impact

6,223 +

Youth accessed reproductive health services enabling them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

9,856

Youth actively participated in civic engagement activities strengthening their role as agents of social change in their communities.

495

Youth attained vocational skills equipped with practical skills to enhance employability and income opportunities.

2448

Youth received career guidance and life skills training enhancing their preparedness for the workforce and personal development.

377

Youth received startup kits provided with essential tools and resources to launch their own businesses.

601

Youth developed business plans for self-help initiatives and received microgrants to start and grow sustainable enterprises.

Facts and figures from 2024 data.

Our Approach

ChildFund’s youth development programs take a comprehensive approach that supports their transition into healthy, productive adulthood. This includes expanding opportunities for young people to earn a stable income through entrepreneurship and vocational skills training, helping them build sustainable livelihoods.

At the same time, ChildFund works to improve access to adolescent sexual and reproductive health services, while equipping youth with essential life skills that support their overall development and decision-making. Equally important is fostering meaningful youth participation in community life, encouraging civic engagement and involvement in development initiatives, all within safe, inclusive, and supportive spaces where young people feel valued, supported and heard.

Uganda’s youth bulge presents both an opportunity and a challenge. With over 70% of the population aged between 18 and 30 years, the country faces a growing need for employment opportunities. However, despite an unemployment rate of 12.6%, a significant gap exists between the skills youth acquire and the demands of the job market.

To bridge this gap, ChildFund implements programs that equip young people with both technical and soft skills needed for career success. These interventions are delivered in partnership with the government’s TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) program and the private sector, ensuring youth are well-prepared to contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s economic growth.

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Our livelihood programs aim to enhance the economic well-being of youth, their families and communities. To achieve this, the country program provides entrepreneurship training, offers startup capital for economic ventures, promotes financial literacy and supports youth-led initiatives that boost household income and foster financial independence.

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Guided by the principle “Nothing for Us Without Us,” we recognize that active youth participation leads to meaningful and sustainable change. Since 2005, our program has supported young people to take on leadership roles and drive positive transformation within their communities. This is achieved through initiatives such as Youth-Adult Partnerships, Peer Education, Child-Friendly Accountability, Voice Now! and Youth Advisory Councils, which equip youth with the skills and platforms to advocate for their rights and contribute to community development.

Project Spotlight

Creating jobs and skilling opportunities for youth and teenage mothers in Teso Sub-Region

Youth unemployment in Uganda is a deepening crisis: about 41% of young people aged 18–30 are neither in education, employment, nor training (NEET), amounting to 9.3 million individuals, according to the UBOS National Labour Force Survey 2021. Adolescent girls face further hurdles: teenage pregnancy alone is estimated to shave up to 30% off Uganda’s GDP by denying young mothers educational and economic opportunities.

In response to these interlinked challenges of low household incomes, environmental degradation, and mounting unemployment among youth and teenage mothers, ChildFund, alongside local partner Partners for Children Worldwide, launched a 15‑month Women and Youth Economic Empowerment project in the Teso Sub‑Region. Funded by The Coca‑Cola Foundation, the initiative seeks to build viable livelihoods, support environmental restoration, and empower young women and men with the tools they need to lift their families out of poverty.