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Climate-resilient livelihoods for young people in Uganda

A future thanks to renewable agriculture

The situation

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with over half of its citizens under the age of 18. As a result, around 800,000 young people enter the job market every year in search of work. However, under current conditions, the labor market is unable to absorb them. The unemployment rate among young people aged 18 to 30 is around 40%. The situation is particularly challenging for young women, especially young mothers.

Agriculture is an important economic sector in Uganda. However, climate-related risks such as droughts and floods and their effects make farming difficult, exacerbating poverty in the country.

The concept

EcoProsperity is a project by Swisscontact that takes a multi-layered approach. It teaches young mothers, young women and men skills for climate-resilient agriculture. They are given access to the necessary operating resources. This enables them not only to increase their yields and thus their income, but also to orient their production more closely to demand and the market. In addition, tailor-made financial products enable them to set up micro or small businesses.

The EcoProsperity project run by Swisscontact will enable up to 12,000 young women and men to secure their income. They build a livelihood in agriculture that is resilient to the challenges of climate change.

The certified seed is more climate- resilient.

Food security thanks to climate- resilient technologies

The young women and men learn regenerative agricultural practices. They use certified seeds that are both climate-resistant and important for diversification. They also gain access to climate-resistant technologies such as irrigation and drainage systems, early warning systems and soil testing. This multi-layered approach takes into account soil health, compost management, and the entire ecosystem.

Affordable financial products

The project involves offering affordable and tailor-made financial products and services. These include, for example, digital loans for women and young people.

Financial products such as digital loans help young people build a sustainable livelihood.

Integrative business models supported

The project supports small and medium-sized firms in implementing integrated business models. These models improve supply chains, increase sales, and offer climate-resilient products and services.

Young women and moms especially encouraged

A quarter of all women in Uganda give birth to their first child before their 18th birthday. Early motherhood often leads to stigmatization, rejection, domestic violence, and dropping out of school. As a result, young mothers are particularly affected by poverty and are to be specifically included in this project.

Young mothers in particular can use the project to build a sustainable livelihood for themselves and their children.

Happel Foundation | Swisscontact

With this project, the Happel Foundation is supporting young women and men in Uganda to build a climate-resistant livelihood through regenerative agriculture.