Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE)


OYE recipients Elizabeth (L) and Hosiana, Dodoma 2021
OYE recipients Elizabeth (L) and Hosiana, Dodoma 2021 © FDFA/Magali Rochat

Inspired by aspects of the Swiss Vocational Skills Development model, the Opportunities for Youth Employment project aims to improve the livelihoods of young rural and peri-urban out-of-school women and men. In addition to building youths' skills-set and connecting them with existing markets for gainful selfemployment in agriculture and renewable energy, this project will also contribute to a more youth friendly and effective market system and policy environment Co-funding is provided by the private sector.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Tanzania
Employment & economic development
Vocational training
Agriculture & food security
nothemedefined
Employment creation
Vocational training
Agricultural services & market
01.03.2020 - 31.05.2024
CHF  1’980’000
Background Limited education and low skills levels pose a high risk for Tanzanian youth, in particular women and those living in rural areas, to enter vulnerable employment. There is a strong correlation between gainful jobs and poverty reduction and without relevant basic and technical skills, youth cannot grasp economic opportunities, improve their financial security and transform their lives. Economic growth, strategies and policies have not yet created adequate employment and income generating opportunities, in particular for the low-skilled young labor force. There is thus an urgent need for localized, flexible, accessible, practical and market-relevant skills training that equips youth for self-employment.
Objectives The overall goal is to improve the livelihoods and future prospects for out-ofschool youth through access to self-employment opportunities in agriculture and renewable energy.
Target groups
  • 4600 youth (M: 2'300/F: 2300), aged 18-30 years that are out-of-school and in vulnerable employment (rural: 3300/ peri-urban: 1'300)
  • 150 youth champions from phase 1 are capacitated and incentivized to provide peercoaching and to lead WhatsApp groups
  • 40 Youth-led Enterprises from phase 1 receive training and coaching to establish 'green businesses'
  • Government institutions, value chain actors, public and private actors and financial institutions are reinforced for improved self-employment and employability of youth
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: An additional 4,600 out-of-school youth, among whom at least 50% young women, accessed self-employment opportunities

Outcome 2: Youth inclusive market systems in two regions are improved and effective in promoting and improving youth employability and self-emp'oyment in a systemic manner

Outcome 3: Local government authorities are enabled to implement their mandate effectively driven by learning and regional knowledge development with evidence-based documentation

Results

Expected results:  

  • Youth are equipped with soft, technical and business skills in agriculture and renewable energy
  • Youth and youth-led enterprises are mentored towards profitable economic activity
  • Young women are encouraged and capacitated to take up leadership roles and positions
  • Collaboration between private actors and youth enterprises provides access to internship opportunities, inputs and services, and improves business performance
  • Learnings are well documented and used for evidence based advocacy, in particular with Local Government Authorities


Results from previous phases:   Through the SDC contribution to OYE phase 1, a total number of 7 '017 youth (M: 57%, F: 43%) secured self-employment or employment in agriculture, renewable energy and in the water, sanitation and hygiene sectors. Aside from an average annual increased income by 215%, youth gained recoginition as community leaders, diversified business operations and gendered household inequalities/relationships improved. In total 484 youth-led enterprises were registered, the majority of them (73%) are active in agriculture and agribusiness. OYE facilitated access to finance by establishing 246 saving and credit groups generating more than 100'000 US$ of savings and by linking 47 youth-led enterprises up with Government youth loans worth 42000 US$. OYE succesfully piloted climate smart innovations to boost production systems and attract higher market prices, as well as WhatsApp groups for continuous technical and business support.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Private sector
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Foreign private sector South/East


Other partners
AS Beteiligungen und Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH
Coordination with other projects and actors

Skills for Employment Tanzania programme,

Youth Inclusive Rural Finance project and SDC media partners

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’980’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’416’040 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   6’303’130 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   10’215’000
Project phases Phase 2 01.03.2020 - 31.05.2024   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.07.2015 - 31.12.2019   (Completed)