This July, the SPRS-NU’s team led a two-day workshop with local partners in Arua. They provided feedback to successful applicants to the Skills Development Fund grants on their proposals  for skills development and vocational training for refugee and host community youth in Northern Uganda.

The Skills Development Fund, under the Skilling Uganda strategy, aims to increase access to quality skills development – i.e. training, entrepreneurial skills, and start-up kits – to under- and unemployed Ugandan and refugee youth in the districts of Arua, Adjumani, Yumbe and Kiryandongo, to better equip them in entering a growing market. 

Fifteen organisations and their partners were provided with technical support and individual guidance from the SDF team on how to improve their proposals in areas such as feasibility, sustainability and coherence. The team stressed that any proposal for vocational training and skills development which targets refugee youth, must take into account their particular needs, be aware of their limitations, and build on their strengths. This is to insure a measurable and sustainable impact and to successfully impart youth with empowering life-long skills.