Excluded youth and skills training in Uganda.

Abstract

This paper shares insights into how the youth population in Uganda that is excluded from education can best be helped to develop skills necessary for the labour market and for other livelihood opportunities, such as productive self-employment. The paper shows that technical and vocational skills may not be enough to help excluded youth gain access to and maintain a decent job. They also need foundational and transferable skills. Moreover, I argue that it is important to enhance partnerships between training institutions and industry. In addition, given the Ugandan context, the informal, agriculture and ICT sectors are crucial sectors that could absorb a large number of youth provided they have the requisite skills to work or to become entrepreneurs in these sectors. It is also important to note that excluded youth may not only require skills. Those who desire to start their own businesses will require other forms of support such as access to finance.