Youth-to-Youth Fund Administration, Uganda

In 2010, the Youth Employment Network collaborated with the ILO to deliver a youth entrepreneurship programme for East Africa entitled ‘Youth Entrepreneurship Facility’ (YEF). The programme was implemented in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya over 5 years (until the end of 2014) with the main objective being “To contribute to the creation of decent work for young Africans, both as a means of self-employment and as job creation for others”.

Through a competitive process, Huys Link Community Initiative (HUYSLINCI) was identified as the most suitable implementing partner in Uganda, a youth-led organization with more than ten years of experience in working with youth and youth CBOs.

HUYSLINCI’s suitability was based on her experience in implementing similar projects to those of the Y2Y Fund grantee projects on a large scale, having implemented vocational training, entrepreneurship training, and life skills training programs as well as facilitated youth savings and loan associations, and making grants for youth development. In September 2013, an agreement between HUYSLINCI and ILO was concluded that mandated the former to administer the Youth to youth fund for 15 months (ending December 2014).

The partnership combined HUYSLINCI’s strong background and knowledge on youth development and youth livelihood and entrepreneurship projects, and Youth Entrepreneurship Facility’s experience in making grants particularly for youth entrepreneurship development purposes, as well as solid expertise in entrepreneurship development and the support of other YEF components (entrepreneurship culture promotion and entrepreneurship education, access to Business Development Services (BDS) and finance and evidence based advocacy).

The direct recipients of funds were the officially registered non-governmental; not-for-profit youth led organizations in Uganda supporting youth entrepreneurship development who would facilitate young people in Uganda who have the potential to start, own or to improve their existing businesses.