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The Challenge:
Uganda’s population is among the youngest globally, with 73.2% under the age of 30. Yet, youth participation in governance is limited: nearly 90% report no engagement at the national level, over 77% at the district level, and 46% at the community level. Karamoja as a region faces additional challenges. Youth are excluded by cultural norms that limit interactions with elders, weak coordination structures, limited access to information on governance and development programs, and mobility pressures caused by climate-related issues such as drought and flooding. These barriers have resulted in poor alignment of policies and services with youth needs, perpetuating socio-economic vulnerabilities, low civic engagement, and social instability.
Project Goal: To improve inclusion of youth in governance and decision-making in Karamoja and Uganda by 2027.
Project Approach:
The project will strengthen youth civic competence, create inclusive participation platforms, and equip governance structures to respond to youth priorities. It will integrate formal governance with traditional decision-making structures, ensuring culturally sensitive engagement while addressing systemic exclusion.
Key Project Outcomes and Outputs:
Outcome 1: Strengthened youth civic competence for effective engagement
- Youth trained in governance principles, advocacy, and decision-making.
- Increased awareness of youth rights, roles, and responsibilities.
- Youth-led platforms created for structured engagement with local authorities.
Outcome 2: Enhanced responsiveness of governance structures
- Local government and community leaders equipped with skills for youth-inclusive decision-making.
- Feedback mechanisms established to ensure continuous youth consultation and responsive service delivery.
What the Project Will Do: Over the next three years, we will;
- Train and empower youth in governance, advocacy, civic engagement, and decision-making skills to increase their confidence and agency in community and district governance processes.
- Raise awareness of youth rights, roles, and responsibilities in formal and informal decision-making spaces through youth-friendly materials, radio programs, community dialogues, and digital campaigns.
- Establish and strengthen youth-led platforms for engagement with local authorities, enabling structured, regular dialogue between youth and decision-makers.
- Equip local government and community leaders with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to conduct youth-inclusive planning, budgeting, and service delivery.
- Set up feedback mechanisms that ensure continuous consultation between youth and governance actors, including town halls, digital reporting tools, and “youth leader connects”.
- Amplify youth voices through media by leveraging storytelling, journalism, and advocacy campaigns to ensure youth perspectives influence policy and service delivery at local and national levels.
- Integrate environmental accountability into governance discussions, linking youth inclusion with climate resilience, disaster response, and sustainable livelihoods initiatives in Karamoja.
Expected Impact
The project will increase youth participation and influence in governance across community, district, and national levels. It will foster youth-responsive policies and services, strengthening collaboration between young people and governance actors. By reaching all nine districts of Karamoja, the project is creating a sustainable model for youth inclusion, amplifying marginalized voices, and improving socio-economic and governance outcomes