What Is Youth Livelihood Fund?
The Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) is a Rolling Government of Uganda Programme, targeting the poor and unemployed youth in all the Districts in the country. The Programme is implemented under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD).
What Is The Purpose Of Livelihood Program?
The objective of the Livelihood Program is to reduce poverty and inequality by generating employment among poor households and by moving highly vulnerable households into sustainable livelihoods and toward economic stability.
How To Apply For Youth Livelihood Fund In Uganda
Access to livelihood assistance could either be through Direct Administration by the DOLE Regional/Provincial/Field Offices or through an Accredited Co-Partner (ACP) of DOLE to wit: peoples’/workers’ organization, union, association, federation, cooperative, business association, church-based organization, educational.
Target Beneficiaries Of The Programme For Youth Livelihood Fund In Uganda
The Programme targets unemployed and poor youth aged 18-30 years, including the following categories:
- Drop-outs from schools and training institutions.
- Youth who have not had the opportunity to attend formal education.
- Single parent youth.
- Youth with disability.
- Youth Living with HIV/AIDS.
- Youth who have completed secondary school or tertiary institutions (including University) but remain unemployed.
Skills Development Component (20%)For Youth Livelihood Fund In Uganda
This supports the development of marketable livelihoods skills that create opportunities for self – employment among the poor and unemployed youth. Investment options include; Masonry, carpentry, metal fabrication, hair dressing, tailoring, leather works, Agro-processing, electrical repairs, bakery/cookery, Video-Audio editing, motor mechanics, clay moulding etc. The programme encourages and promotes innovations in non-traditional skills areas such as ICT, Agro-processing among others.
Livelihood Support Component (70%)For Youth Livelihood Fund In Uganda
This provides productive assets for viable income generating enterprises chosen by the youth. Investment Options include, Dairy production, high value crops, poultry/egg production, piggery, aquaculture, animal traction, agro-forestry, post-harvest handling, value addition, trade, service sector projects, etc.
Institutional Support (10%)For Youth Livelihood Fund In Uganda
The Institutional Support Component has two (2) sub-components: Project Implementation Support (PIS): To improve the technical, administrative and managerial capacity of the key implementers of the Project at national, local government and community levels. Transparency Accountability & Anti-corruption (TAAC): To promote good governance and accountability at all levels of Project Implementation. It is implemented in collaboration with the Inspectorate of Government (IG). More focus is on the preventive measures.
Implementation Arrangements For Youth Livelihood Fund In Uganda
YLP is mainstreamed into Government structures at the National and Local Government levels. The Local Governments are responsible for mobilization & sensitization, beneficiary selection, facilitating projects preparation, appraisal and approval of projects, monitoring and supervision. Beneficiary selection is conducted through community participatory mechanisms (done in the community). MGLSD provides the technical guidelines, support capacity building, financing, and overall coordination. YLP support is provided through Youth Interest Groups (YIGs) of 10-15 persons in form of Revolving Funds (Soft Loans-with youth friendly terms). These funds are youth-friendly because:
- There is no interest for repayments made within the first twelve months;
- Only 5% per annum surcharge for the repayments made after the initial 12 months;
- No physical assets/collateral required;
- Flexible repayment period of 1-3 years depending on the nature of the project;
- Accessible for both existing and new groups;
- Formal registration of groups not a pre-condition for access;
- No administrative fees levied on any application;
- Promotes active participation of the youth at all stages of implementation through the Youth Council Structures; and
- The fund size depends on request made by the group ranging from UShs.1-25 million.
Project Funds Access Guidelines For Youth Livelihood Fund In Uganda
The YLP Support will be accessed by Youth Groups that will have expressed interest, passed the beneficiary selection criteria, and generated viable projects that are approved by the District Technical Planning Committee. How will the Youth Express Interest? The eligible beneficiaries will:
a) Obtain a Project Interest Form (PIF) from the Sub-county distributed free of charge by the Sub-county Focal Point Person (CDO/ACDO). It is a one-page form which captures the type of project the Youth wish to undertake, the location of the Youth/proposed Project site, as well as the contact persons for follow up.
b) Complete the PIF in duplicate (one copy to be submitted to the Sub-county and the other to be retained by the Youth).
c) Each PIF issued and returned to the Sub-county will be entered in a PIF register, maintained by the Sub-county.
d) It should be noted that the PIF is not a Project Application Form. It is an indication of the wish of the Youth to participate in the Programme and an invitation to the Sub-county Authorities to follow-up and facilitate the Youth to transform their Project Idea in to a fundable Project Proposal/Application.
e) On receipt of the PIF at the Sub-county, the Sub-county Selection Committee, based on the information provided on the PIF, will get in touch with the Local Council-One (LCI) Chairperson of the area to mobilize the Youth who are behind the PIF submitted, together with the entire community of the village they reside in, for a meeting to be conducted within that village/community.
Beneficiary Selection For Youth Livelihood Fund In Uganda
- The process of beneficiary selection will be facilitated by the Selection Committee comprised of the Sub-county Chief, Sub-county CDO/ACDO, Sub-county Youth Chairperson and LCI Chairperson of the area.
- Beneficiary selection shall be done in a community meeting in a transparent and participatory manner. This process is expected to take 3-4 hours.
- The process will begin with sensitization of the entire community on the Youth Livelihood Programme. Thereafter the Selection Committee will announce the receipt of a PIF from
- Youth from that community and ask them to introduce themselves to the meeting. At this point the actual selection will have started.
The Selection Committee Will Then Engage The Community To Confirm The Following:-
- Are all the intended beneficiaries Youth (persons within 18-30 years of age)? Evidence may be provided through birth certificates, immunization cards, passports, baptismal cards, national identity cards or community knowledge of the Youth.
- Are all the intended beneficiaries bona fide residents of their area?
- Are all the intended beneficiaries un-employed, under-employed or poor?
- Are all the intended beneficiaries Ugandan Nationals?
- Does the selection of the Youth to benefit under the Group conform to the cardinal principle of equity in the allocation of resources? The Selection Committee with the help of the community will ensure that not more than 1 Youth is selected from any one household at any one time, and that priority is given to the Youth who have not benefitted from other similar Programmes in the recent past.
- Are all the Youth of sound minds and good character to be trusted with the funds?