Uganda has the world’s youngest population and is also the largest refugee hosting country in Africa with over 1.5 million refugees, of whom 60% are young people. Both refugee and host community young people face several challenges such as high poverty and unemployment rates attributed to several barriers in finding or creating employment. These include limited access to quality and market-relevant skills, limited access to credit, lack of learning opportunities to develop practical skills, limited business/entrepreneurial skills, negative socio-cultural attitudes and practices, lack of industry connections, discrimination, and long periods of inactivity due to conflict and displacement.  Moreover, these challenges are worse for refugees and young women.

Muni University in collaboration with eight partners are implementing the Refugee and Host Community Youth Empowerment and Transformation Initiative (RETI) program with the Mastercard Foundation to address unemployment challenges faced by young people aged 15 –35 years in 15 refugee hosting districts in Uganda. RETI is designed to address these barriers and leverage on the opportunities identified by employing gender sensitive and inclusive approaches to programming to empower young people to utilize their potential as agents of change.

UNIQUENESS OF THE PROGRAM

• Public-Private Partnerships connecting Higher Education Institution, International and National Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Government, private sector & communities in co-creation and service delivery
• An integrated program providing multiple services (skilling, mindset change, financial inclusion, market access and transition to work).
• Program incorporates youth voices from gaps analysis
• Developed capacity building plan for local partners for sustainable service delivery engagement
• Opportunities for further research and knowledge building on refugees and migration issues