Decentralized Programs and Youth Employment: a Case of Youth Livelihood Program in Murora Sub-County Kisoro District

Abstract

The study was to assess the decentralization Programs and Youth employment considering a of Youth livelihood program in Murora Sub County, Kisoro district.

The study was guided by specific objectives which were meant to establish development initiatives under the YLP in Murora Sub County evaluate the benefits of the YLP to youth inMurora, Kisoro and assess the compliance to monitoring strategies of the Youth Livelihood Program by the local government implementers in Murora Sub County, Kisoro District.

Regarding the review of literature; in chapter two, variable by variable was reviewed under themes that constituted sub-headings which are aligned to the study objectives. They included development Initiatives, benefits of YLP to the youth, and compliance to monitoring strategies.

The research study used a case study of the YLP considering both explanatory and descriptive designs. Explanatory design was used to explain the decentralization program (youth livelihood program) whereas descriptive design was used to explore the magnitude of the problem of unemployment that was under study.

The selection of respondents was by simple random and purposive sampling basing on a sample size of 72 respondents who included the district technical officers, Sub-County officers, Murora community members and youth who have directly and indirectly benefited from the livelihood program.

Focus Group Discussion (FGD)and Interview method were used to acquire the data that was needed for the research.

Data collected was analyzed to get sample characteristics, distribution of frequency and to generate the intended results in form of tables and pie-charts and bar graphs.

In chapter Four, Findings from development initiatives revealed that YLP has introduced the youth led agricultural cooperatives which was revealed by 29% of the respondents. Other findings showed that YLP has significantly increased self-employment, participation, growth of microfinance interventions and many others.

However, further findings showed that the majority of the respondents did not understand how monitoring of the youth livelihood program is done, thus this leaves the program hanging and at times youth misuse funds because they are not followed up. Respondents also raised concern over the bureaucracy that prevents the youth from acquiring the livelihood money, most of local government officers who want a share on the loans youth seek to acquire from the government among other challenges.

Basing on findings, it is therefore recommended that the Ministry of Labor, Social development through the local government put in place clear monitoring strategies for the YLP and recommend for a committee at the local government level (Sub County) in order for the youth to get access to monies as requested from the local government because of the youth complained about the local government leaders need a portion of the funds yet the youth beneficiaries are required to pay back the loans.

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