Uganda’s development aspiration, as enshrined in NDP IV, is to be a middle-income country, yet youth, who are more than 45% of the population, face high underemployment rates. Rural youth no longer admire subsistence agriculture as returns-to-efforts amidst the challenges of markets, climate change, extension, and finance continue to decline.  Poverty remains a key constraint in Uganda, and the youth unemployment rate stands at 64%, with 49% being of the 19-35 age group and not engaged in active income-generating activities. Many underemployed youths depend on low-paying casual labor in agriculture, construction, and other informal sectors. Addressing this challenge requires sustainable economic interventions.

AFARD has, therefore, received funding from the Wilde Ganzen Foundation’s Blue Ambition Fund to implement a three-year multi-intervention (TRALIDE) focused on long-term impact and sustainability. 

TRALIDE project seeks to promote self-employment through a resilient, gender-responsive, and sustainable agribusiness intensification with a goal that by 2027, “600 vulnerable married youth (50% women) in Nebbi district, Uganda own and operate resilient agri-enterprises providing them decent life time self-employment opportunities and sustainable livelihoods” through facilitating mindset transformation and capacity building, enhancing vocational and agribusiness management skills and strengthening access to markets and financial products.

Project Budget: UGX 1.9 billion (€497,686)

Donor: WILDE GANZE