HOIMA-Uganda—-The Germany International Cooperation (GIZ) and the government of Uganda have launched a project, Youth Employment Enhancement Project (YEEP) aimed at equipping youths in Uganda with vocational skills.
Through its employment and skills for Eastern Africa Project, GIZ partnered with Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development for the YEEP project that aims at skilling selected young craftsmen and women from the Albertan region to Internationally recognized levels.
This is aimed at improving on their employability in the emerging opportunities in the Oil and Gas supply chains and related industries.
The project is targeting technicians in metal fabrication and electrical engineering.
Launching the project in Hoima, Uganda’s State Minister for Mineral Development Peter Lokeris noted that for the Youth to benefit from the emerging opportunities in the Oil and Gas sector they must have skills that enables them to get employed in the sector.
“Oil and gas sector has wider employment opportunities especially to the youth but the challenge many of them lack the qualification to work in the sector. It is why as the Ministry, we have collaborated with development partners to come up with the YEEP project that we hope will close the skills gap among the youth,” said Lokeris.
Lokeris said the YEEP project is in direct response to findings of the workforce skills development strategy and plan(WSDSP) of the government of Uganda which identifies key skills required for Ugandan to benefit more from the upcoming Oil and Gas sector.
The one year YEEP project is expected to end in 2018. It’s expected that by then, 220 artisan would have been trained and internationally certified in industry.
They would have attained relevant skills such as 3G coded welding regular welding , fabrication and pipe work , electrical engineering and scaffolding erection and Inspection.
The project will be implemented at St Simon Peters Vocational Training Center in Hoima a catholic based vocational training institution under the Hoima catholic Diocese.
YEEP mode of training according to Patrick Mbony the Executive Director of Q-SOURCING Uganda the Company which is offering the technical support will last between 9-13 weeks depending on the trade and followed by mandatory two month’s internship.
In addition participants will also have to attend a two weeks introduction to health , safety and environmental issues training as well as a business training course to encourage them to set up a business on their own thus creating employment for themselves and the general public.
GIZ country Director Christian Schnure pledged to continue supporting government initiatives that aim at improving the Social Economic well being of the ordinary Ugandans.
