UN, government launch program to skill fresh graduates

Government with support from the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Volunteer program have launched an initiative that would see fresh Ugandan graduates undergo a year’s training to equip them with skills and experience as required by employers.

Speaking during the launch of the initiative, the United Nations resident coordinator Rosa Malango said the program would go a long way to address the persistent problem of unemployment especially among Ugandan youths by equipping them with the required hands on skills, apart from what they learn in school.

“It will help greatly to build capacity to create employment, promote job creation and entrepreneurship. I am confident that working hand in hand with the Ugandan government, we shall help fight unemployment among youths,”Malango said.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Pius Bigirimana such the initiative is part of government’s efforts to reduce unemployment especially among youths who constitute the biggest percentage of the population.

“We are slowly by slowly defeating the prophets of doom who were saying that we have done nothing to solve the youth unemployment problem,”Bigirimana said.

“After the youth livelihood program and many others, now this new one will greatly help enhance employability and address the skills gap among graduates.”

He applauded UNDP for their support to the Ugandan government towards fighting unemployment among youths.

With 78% of the population below the age of 30 and 22.5% between 18 and 30 years, Uganda is one of the youngest countries in the world according to the Uganda National Household Survey 2017.

How it works

Named the Uganda Graduate Volunteer Scheme (GVS), the new program will see fresh graduates apply online to be entered into the system in which they will be placed under several institutions to get hands -on skills and experience for a period of one year.

Meanwhile several institutions willing to take on the volunteers are also expected to apply to be considered.

During the one year in which the fresh graduated will be volunteering, they will not be getting salaries but allowance.

They will later be issued with national certificates after completion of the one year volunteer program.

The program will help enhance youth skills and competencies for employability and competitiveness