Country: Eastern Uganda
Sector: Youth Empowerment, Livelihoods
Background:
A global NGO implementing a vocational skills programme for out-of-school youth in Eastern Uganda sought a mid-term evaluation to assess implementation fidelity, training relevance, and employment outcomes. The goal was to ensure the program remained on track and responsive to changing economic conditions.
Approach:
We deployed a mixed-methods evaluation across three districts, engaging 600 youth through structured surveys, while also conducting FGDs with trainers, local employers, and program managers.
We applied a results-based management lens and developed a customized scorecard to track performance across key indicators-employment status, income levels, and skill application.
The evaluation also reviewed training curricula against labor market demand.
Findings:
Only 48% of trained youth had transitioned into income-generating activities, with major gaps in job linkage support and limited access to start-up capital. However, satisfaction with training content was high (87%), and youth reported improved confidence and soft skills. Employers noted mismatches between the training provided and market expectations in areas such as digital literacy and customer service.
Impact:
The evaluation informed a program redesign that included internship placements, private sector partnerships, and entrepreneurship support. The client also shifted to a modular training model to allow faster adaptation to emerging skills needs.
