New qualification aims to unlock jobs for Ugandan refugees

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A new qualification designed to get refugees and displaced young people into jobs, universities and vocational training programmes is being rolled out in Uganda and could reach millions worldwide, officials have said.

Cambridge University Press and Assessment and Beirut-based NGO Alsama Project signed a partnership agreement at the Education World Forum to expand the G12++, a credential built specifically for young people whose schooling was cut short by displacement.

In a statement to New Vision, the deal was signed in the presence of senior United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and UK government officials. Jane Mann, Managing Director for Partnership for Education at Cambridge, said the qualification would help young people who have lost everything, including their shot at a career, to rebuild.

“When young people are forced to leave school and flee, it's not only their past they leave behind, but their future too. Displaced youth in Uganda and across the globe need models that reflect their realities, and the world needs their talents,” she said.

There are 117.3 million forcibly displaced people in the world, including 49 million children. Only 9% of refugees access higher education, against a global average of 42%. Uganda alone hosts 1.9 million forcibly displaced people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

"The barrier has never been ability. What has been missing is recognition. The G12++ exists to change that, and Cambridge's partnership is what makes that argument impossible to ignore,” Meike Ziervogel, co-founder and CEO of Alsama Project.

The qualification, which does not require students to follow any specific curriculum, tests critical thinking and real-world skills rather than rote learning. It is aimed at learners who cannot sit traditional school-leaving exams, and is intended to be accepted by employers, universities and vocational training providers as proof of ability.

Alsama Project launched the first G12++ exam in February 2026 at the Shatila refugee camp in Beirut, where the NGO is based. Some students who initially arrived at the camp unable to read or do basic arithmetic have since passed the exam.

Cambridge, which runs assessments for more than 8 million learners a year across 170 countries, has been working with Alsama for two years to strengthen the exam's design and rigour.

The two organisations said they are now looking for universities, employers, technical and vocational institutions, and governments to partner with them on scaling the G12++ globally. They will also work together to expand delivery through a network of NGO partners and seek funding to support rollout.