Over 500 fresh graduates trained for the job market

Uganda has one of the youngest populations globally. Each year, up to 800,000 Ugandans join the job market. These comprise an estimated 100,000 fresh graduates from universities and other tertiary institutions.

Unfortunately, the job market only absorbs a small percentage of these – with the rest having to either create their own jobs or remain unemployed. Even worse is the fact that many of those employed lack the necessary real work environment skills, their qualifications notwithstanding.

Experts have largely attributed the growing unemployment of graduates to the static education system and limited practical studies offered by the school syllabus. To address this skills gap, Enabel and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) with support from the Mastercard Foundation are implementing the Work Readiness Program (WRP) to enhance the employability and productivity of young graduates from universities and other tertiary institutions.

WRP supports recent university graduates to acquire practical work experience, and boost soft skills through attachments to jobs in the manufacturing, agro-processing, construction, tourism, and ICT sectors for six paid months. 

Under this six-month arrangement, WRP pays 80 per cent of the selected graduate’s salary while the organization the graduate is working for pays 20 per cent. The program being implemented together with over 30 organizations in the five sectors has already benefited at least 500 fresh graduates. 

According to the WRP graduate relations officer, Betty Twesiime, this program is open to Ugandans who graduated from a university with a transcript or evidence of processing one. The eligible candidates must have completed or graduated not more than two years from the date of application, seeking work in one of the targeted sectors, and willing to commit to a six-month work readiness program. 

“There are no charges paid for attending the interview or for joining if selected. The shortlisted candidates will have to appear for an interview at a venue that will be communicated. The award of a placement does not confer on the candidates any right for absorption in the host companies under any circumstances,” Twesiime said.

She added: “Candidates will be required to produce the original of all certificates/testimonials and any other relevant certificate, community certificate, if applicable, during the interview. Female graduates in male-dominated trades in these sectors are encouraged to apply.” 

WRP is part of the Lead Firm Structure (LFS) program also run by PSFU. Since its launch in 2019, the LFS project has so far mobilized 137,077 Ugandan youths and managed to transit over 100,000 youth into meaningful and dignified work, whilst targeting to create at least 300,000 jobs by 2025.

nangonzi@observer.ug