AFARD in partnership with Center for Governance and Economic Development (CEGED) implemented this 3-year project in Pakwach, Zombo, and Arua districts. The project goal was “to contribute to youth inclusive economic 

growth and poverty reduction in West Nile region of Uganda through sustainable and gainful employment opportunities.”  An independent end line evaluation found out that the project formed 125 youth-led Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) with 2,500 members (66% females) and supported 1,551 youth start their own agribusinesses (horticulture and local poultry) while 883 youth and 66 youth joined non-farm vocational and formal employment respectively. The project also trained all the youth in entrepreneurship, life skills, advocacy, and financial literacy and these resulted into:

• Increased youth entry into employment with 87% running their own enterprises with increased adoption of good practices (87% used GAP and 30% business management practices).
• Individual business value increased from UGX 119,000 to UGX 170,000; duration of daily work hours from 4 - 5.6 hours and days worked from 4.7 – 6 days. More productive assets were procured: 70% mobile phones, 30% shoats (goats, sheep and pigs), 23% radios, and 21% mattresses. 
• Household asset wealth increased from UGX 1,656,655 to UGX 3,959,992. This led to a reduction in extreme poverty from 72% to 62%; Food security increased from 69% to 90%; and self-esteem measured using the Rosenberg scale increased from 67% to 90%. Women empowerment index increased from 0.4 to 0.7.
• Access to government space and funds: 728 youths in 25 youth-led VSLA accessed UGX 100,231,000 from their local governments to expand their enterprises. 

Project Budget: UGX 1,779,754,000 

Donor: European Union and AFARD