The Agency For Accelerated Regional Developement (AFARD) in partnership with Center for Governance and Economic Development (CEGED) secured a 3-year funding (2016-19) from the European Union in Uganda for Youth Economic Empowerment Project (YEEP) that aims at promoting sustainable and gainful youth employmentthrough a holistic andmulti-sectoral approach thattargets improving youth employability, public-private sector engagements, and youth voice and space in local governance. The overall goal of YEEP is, “to contribute to youth inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction in West Nile region of Uganda through sustainable and gainful employment opportunities” and its specific objectives are to:

(i) Improve the employability of 2,500 rural youth organized in 125 youth-led VSLAs(900 youth/45 groups in Nebbi; 800 youth/40 groups in Arua; and 800 youth/40 groups in Zombo districts.

(ii) Promote access to gainful employment opportunities for 2,500 rural youth through agribusiness, microenterprises, micro-franchise, and formal jobs;

(iii) Strengthen the political capabilities of 2,500 youth to effectively dialogue with local gover ment, private sector, and civil society actors; and

(iv) Build the capacity of the local CSOsimplementing the action for better accountability, learning, and visibility.