Govt, UN partner to boost jobs for youth in early childhood care

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The Government of Uganda, in partnership with the United Nations, has unveiled a ground-breaking initiative to expand employment opportunities for young people within Early Childhood Care.

The two-year pilot project, known as Skill and Transform Resilient Youth to Invest in the Development of Early Childhood (STRYIDE), was operationalised on November 14 2025, at Fairway Boutique Hotel in Kampala.

It will be rolled out in the districts of Madi Okollo and Isingiro, as well as within the capital city, Kampala.

The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund.

Its aim is to create entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, particularly for women and teenage girls, while improving access to affordable and inclusive Early Childhood Development services for children aged three to five years.

According to Tollea Franco, the assistant commissioner for children affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the STRYIDE initiative is designed to combine youth employment with the expansion of quality Early Childhood Development services.

“This pilot project represents a timely and innovative approach to addressing two of Uganda’s pressing development challenges, youth unemployment and gaps in ECD service delivery,” he stated.

Franco noted that equipping young people with practical skills and supporting them to create ECD enterprises delivers two benefits.

“It empowers young people economically while expanding access to quality ECD services so that every child can get a strong start in life,” he added.

He also appealed to stakeholders to maintain high standards of accountability and teamwork to ensure the project’s success and sustainability.

“Let us make STRYIDE a model of innovation, accountability, and partnership, one that empowers youth, strengthens families, and secures a brighter future for Uganda’s children,” he said.

Barno Mukhamadieva, the UNICEF head of education, commended the strong collaboration between the Government of Uganda, UNCDF and district local governments.

She said the STRYIDE pilot reflects a shared commitment to advancing both early learning and youth economic empowerment.

“The initiative brings together two national priorities, expanding access to quality early learning opportunities for all children and promoting decent employment and entrepreneurship among youth, especially young women, while testing innovative, sustainable models that link early learning with youth livelihoods,” she highlighted.

Mukhamadieva added that UNICEF will continue working with partners to support children’s development and ensure every young person has a fair chance to thrive.

“The pilot will support youth with skills training, mentorship, and access to innovative financing to establish and manage ECD centres as sustainable social enterprises,” she said.

More than 150 youth entrepreneurs and approximately 1,100 young children are expected to benefit during the two-year implementation period, and a financing facility will be tested for future scale-up.