Understanding the context of the Youth Forward initiative in Uganda: A political economy analysis

Youth Forward focuses on economically disadvantaged young people, aged 15-24, living in Ghana and Uganda who are low income (living on less than $2 a day), out of school, unemployed or underemployed and moving through a transition point in their life.

Uganda has made remarkable economic progress in the past 25 years, but the consequences of its history of conflict, internal displacement, high population growth and unequal development are still felt today. Young people are at a particular disadvantage due to Uganda’s rapid population growth, which has resulted in high unemployment rates and prevents young people from acquiring skills and experience. This is made more difficult by low levels of development of industry and services, as well as the unique post-conflict environment of northern Uganda.

Using an Overseas Development Institute political economy analysis framework, this paper explores the context that will be influential in determining the implementation efforts and outcomes of the Youth Forward initiative in Uganda. It first establishes the underlying cultural, political, economic and geographical factors, which still bear influence on Uganda today, and then identifies key stakeholder groups with influence on the initiative’s progress, to locate entry points for Youth Forward to influence and shape local dynamics.